Report Viagra Use in Dental History

Alisa B. Fens, RDH, NY

In addition to the hygienist and dental assistant, your dentist requires one more team member in order to assure quality, safe dental care. That person is you. Even if you have gone to the same dentist for a long time, you need to make sure that he or she is aware of any changes in your health, medications or allergies that may have developed or been diagnosed since your last exam. Your dentist will take a complete dental and medical history as part of your patient record. You need to be an active partner in your health care by keeping him or her updated and informed about your medical status. Do not decide on your own that any medical information does not relate significantly to your dental health or care. I have referred to this in the past when I have cautioned my female readers to let their dentists know when they are on the birth control pill. This is both because the pill can cause gingivitis and because certain antibiotics will render the pill ineffective and they will need to practice alternative methods of birth control. Other medical conditions such as glaucoma or taking medications to treat it will make it necessary for your dentist to avoid certain anesthetic agents.

Today I would like to caution my readers that it is imperative that they be forthright with their dentists if they use the drug Viagra. First and foremost should their be a medical emergency involving chest pain, the treatment changes dramatically if the patient is taking Viagra. When chest pain is thought to be from a heart attack emergency personnel will generally treat it with nitrates such as nitroglycerin. Patients who are taking Viagra must not be given nitrates weather as a pain reliever or as part of a differential diagnosis of myocardial infarction or "heart attack". Viagra has vasodilating effects and if these properties are compounded by the vasodilating effects of the nitrates the result could be a severe drop in blood pressure which could result in such a strain on the heart that it could actually cause a heart attack or cardiac arrest.

In addition, if your dentist prescribes antibiotics he may prescribe an antibiotic that will alter your blood levels of Viagra. Your dentist will need to work closely with your physician to prescribe a safe antibiotic for any dental infections or as a preventative care for cardiac and other conditioned.

Remember it is imperative that you give a complete medical and dental history. This information must legally be kept confidential and an incomplete history could lead to some serious complications.