This summary is based on the article published in the Journal of the American Dental Association: Prevention of prescription opioid abuse: the role of the dentist (July 2011) Full-text article (PDF) Context Opioids are analgesics that have potential for misuse, abuse or addiction. Up to an estimated 23 percent of prescribed doses are used non-medically. As prescribers of 12 […]
Canadian medical regulatory authorities undertook guideline development in response to: Physicians and other stakeholders seeking guidance regarding safe and effective use of opioids A growing concern about opioid misuse creating patient and public safety issues, and The lack of systematically developed national guidelines on opioid use for CNCP. Canadian Guideline for Safe and Effective Use […]
This is a follow-up post to the Refresher: Why use anti-infectives? A number of dentists inquired about the pediatric doses for the anti-infectives mentioned in the post. Sources of information: Lexicomp and e-Therapeutics.ca Amoxicillin Children ≤3 months: Oral: 20-30 mg/kg/day divided every 12 hours Children >3 months and <40 kg: Oral: 20-100 mg/kg/day in divided […]
This summary is based on the Clinical Info provided by the Canadian Pharmacists Association: Drugs in Dentistry (December 2012) By Dr. Dan Haas, DDS, PhD, FRCDC Potential Interactions with Epinephrine or Levonordefrin: Adding epinephrine or levonordefrin to the local anesthetic formulation improves the depth and duration of the local anesthetic block. However, exercise caution if a patient has […]
This summary is based on the Clinical Info provided by the Canadian Pharmacists Association: Drugs in Dentistry (December 2012) By Dr. Dan Haas, DDS, PhD, FRCDC Consider the following points when using antibiotics: Use only when there is an indication. Use only when the risk-benefit ratio is favourable. They are not a substitute for establishing adequate drainage. […]
This summary is based on the guidelines published by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA): Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) and International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) collaborative update of CANMAT guidelines for the management of patients with bipolar disorder: update 2013 (February 2013) Access the article (PDF) The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments published guidelines for the management of bipolar […]
This summary is based on the Clinical Info provided by the Canadian Pharmacists Association: Drugs in Dentistry (December 2012) By Dr. Dan Haas, DDS, PhD, FRCDC Consider the following points in the use of analgesics: Eliminate the source of pain, if possible. Individualize regimens. Optimize dose and frequency before switching. Maximize the nonopioid before adding the opioid. […]
This question was submitted by a general dentist: When discussing sun damage to lips, a couple of patients indicated that their physician prescribed Efudex. There is apparently no follow-up by the physician and no indication to the patients as to what the desired outcome of the said treatment should be. Should dentists be prescribing this medication […]