We Need To Know Too

Do you have latex allergies? What about diabetes? Do you have sleep apnea? Or high blood pressure? Do you smoke? Do you have a history of migraines? Are you allergic to any medications? Whoa, whoa, whoa…What’s with all of the medical questions? These questions aren’t just medical questions; they’re standard questions that you will find on new patient forms in most dental offices, too. At Millennium Smiles in Frisco, Texas, we also ask these questions of our new patients, but we encourage our current patients to let us know about their complete medical history – including allergies – and also to tell us if anything changes.

But, You’re a Dentist…

Yes, we are a dental office, but there are times in the course of your treatment that you may be prescribed an antibiotic to help treat a dental abscess or we might recommend a specific product to you that could unknowingly cause an allergic reaction. Earlier this month, an 11-year-old girl in West Covina, Calif., died from a severe allergic reaction after using a toothpaste that contained dairy products. The dentist who prescribed a toothpaste called MI Paste One did not know the girl had a severe dairy allergy.

Situations like this are tragic, but can be avoided by communicating to us if you have any allergy, or if you’ve had an allergic reaction in the past. If you show the signs of an allergic reaction during your treatment, let us know immediately.

Additionally, we also recommend that you communicate to us any other health issue that you’ve had or are currently experiencing. For one, it’s just a good idea to let anyone who is treating you what you’re experiencing. For two, some of your symptoms may be part of a more significant condition, and while we are a dental practice, in many cases, we have been able to help diagnose, and effectively treat, some health conditions.

For example, if you’re living with migraines, high blood pressure, extreme fatigue, or mood swings, you may be living with undiagnosed sleep apnea.

Other non-dental, medical conditions frequently caught by dentists include:

• Infections
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Stress
• Oral cancer
• Benign tumors
• TMJD
• Breathing disorders
• Heart conditions
• Some autoimmune diseases, such as Sjogren’s syndrome

Have you made your next dental appointment? Give us a call at 972-430-2773 to get scheduled at Millennium Smiles in Frisco, Texas!