The Coordination of Dentists and Physicians in Managing Adverse Oral Effects of Drug Therapy–Report of a Case

Because people are living longer and older people generally use more medications than do the young, it is extremely important that the dentist be aware of the medications that are being taken by his/her patients as well as the reasons for the medications. Frequently, it may be necessary to consult with the patient's physician(s) in order to better understand the patient's medication history. This paper describes a case in which a patient was inappropriately following a long‐term course of antibiotic therapy when only a short‐term regimen had been intended by the patient's physician. The long‐term antibiotic use eventually predisposed the patient to oral candidosis. The dentist contacted the physician and referred the patient back to the physician for an alternative medical regimen. This case report emphasizes that patients may incorrectly interpret physician or dentist instructions concerning medication use. The dentist may be in an excellent position to identify medication errors and should contact the patient's physician whenever in doubt.