In Medical History Mysteries, we’ve been talking about the importance of having a systems-based medical history. Today, Dr. Tom Viola and I will focus on patients with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and what we should find out before we provide dental treatment.
Lots of things fall under the realm of GI disorders, but upper GI conditions seem to have the greatest effect on dentistry. Peptic ulcer disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can have interactions with pain medications. Steroids and NSAIDs are not always the best match for patients with upper GI issues, and some medications have been linked to dental implant failure. Acid reflux can cause damage to the oral mucosa, among other things.
Join us in this episode of Medical History Mysteries, as we learn how dental professionals can be instrumental in diagnosing cases of systemic illness—particularly GI disorders—through observation of various changes in the oral cavity.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Through the Loupes newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe to Through the Loupes.
Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, is the chief editor of DentistryIQ and editorial codirector of Through the Loupes. Based in Salem, Massachusetts, Dr. Maragliano-Muniz began her clinical career as a dental hygienist. She went on to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she earned her doctorate in dental medicine. She then attended the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dental Medicine, where she became board-certified in prosthodontics. Dr. Maragliano-Muniz owns a private practice, Salem Dental Arts, and lectures on a variety of clinical topics. You may contact her at [email protected].
