Overview of medical conditions and dental treatment

Patients attending a general dental practice can have medical conditions or be taking medications that affect their dental management. It is important to obtain a complete medical and medication history (see Dental practice: taking a history).

For patients with a medical condition, consider the potential effect of dental treatment on their condition. If the patient can only tolerate short periods of dental treatment or their medical condition is easily destabilised, modify dental treatment accordingly. For patients with complex medical conditions, schedule appointments in the morning so that any potential sequelae can be resolved during the day.

If the patient’s life expectancy is short or if they have severe disease, consider whether dental treatment will improve the patient’s quality of life and level of pain. Consult the patient’s medical practitioner, specialist or multidisciplinary team to determine an appropriate treatment plan for acute oral and dental conditions.

The following topics outline common medical conditions and medications, and the dental issues associated with them. They are not a substitute for formal training or detailed texts. Medical emergencies can arise during dental treatment—call 000 and administer first aid (see here for first-aid management of medical emergencies occurring in dental practice).