Dental Pharmacology

Introduction

Dental pharmacology deals with different drugs or medications that are used in dentistry (dental field) to treat various oral (mouth) health conditions. There are various drugs used by dental professionals, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics (pain relievers), anesthetics, and antibiotics to address or treat different dental conditions. Therefore, the article talks in detail about dental pharmacology.

Dental Drugs Prescribed for Various Dental Problems and Procedures:

Medications In Dental Settings

1. Prevention of Tooth Decay: Tooth decay mainly occurs due to the wear off of the outer layer of the tooth surface called enamel. It often leads to tooth cavities. The dentist's fluoride treatment to prevent or reverse tooth decay or strengthen teeth.
2. Pain Relief or Sedation: Dentists use anesthesia to relieve pain or irritation and provide a soothing effect. Anesthesia can be injected, or inhaled, and over-the-counter, they are available in the form of sprays and gel. The types of anesthesia used in dentistry include:

• Local Anesthesia: For example, Novocaine or Lidocaine is used to numb a specific part of the mouth during dental procedures, such as during wisdom tooth extraction. In the case of a hypertensive patient, the dentist often combines epinephrine with local anesthesia to reduce bleeding in such patients.
• Topical Anesthesia: For example, Benzocaine is directly applied to the area of the mouth that needs to be anesthetized during dental procedures.
• General Anesthesia: For example, nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is used to put a person to sleep or relax the whole body.?

1. Gingivitis (Gum Disease) and Plague: The dentist prescribes Chlorhexidine mouth rinse to eliminate the bacterial infection from periodontal (gum) diseases during dental procedures for a short duration.

Medications In Home Settings

1. Dental Pain: Mouth sores, toothache, and pain from braces or dentures cause pain and irritation which can be treated with topical analgesics, such as lozenges, dental paste or cream, gel, mouth rinse, spray, or ointments. In some cases these conditions may need pain management in dental clinics, therefore, a dentist may recommend pain relievers before any dental procedure (such as crown placement, cavity filling, or oral surgery). These drugs include:

• Corticosteroids.
• Opioids.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen, and Aspirin.
• Acetaminophen.

2. Xerostomia (Dry Mouth): Dry mouth is caused due to the lack of salivary glands to produce enough saliva. Drugs called sialagogues are used to treat this condition, and they include the following medications:

• Pilocarpine.
• Cevimeline.
• Saliva substitutes for temporary relief from dry mouth conditions.

3. Drooling (Hypersalivation): Drugs that control excessive saliva production or drooling are known as antisialagogues. These include:

Glycopyrrolate.

Atropine sulfate.

Scopolamine.

4. Oral Bacterial Infections: Dentists prescribe antibiotics in the form of tablets, mouth rinses, ointments, or liquids to treat bacterial infections. These medications include:

• Azithromycin.
• Amoxicillin.
• Clindamycin.

5. Oral Viral Infections: Medications usually do not treat viral infections but they can reduce the symptoms, such as cold sores. Dentists use the following antiviral drugs:

• Valacyclovir.
• Acyclovir.
• Famciclovir.

6. Oral Fungal Infections: Fungal infections such as oral thrush, and denture stomatitis are often treated with antifungal drugs, such as

• Miconazole.
• Clotrimazole.
• Nystatin.
• Fluconazole.

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