Dentists prescribe several categories of medications to manage a variety of oral diseases and conditions. Among these conditions are bacterial, fungal, and viral infections and pain.

1. MEDENTA ORAL & DENTAL CARE
Medications in Dentistry
Hedayatullah Ehsan, DMD
hedayatullahehsan@gmail.com

2. ➢ Dentist may prescribe a number of different
medications, depending on your condition. Some
medications are prescribed to fight certain oral
diseases, to prevent or treat infections, or to
control pain and relieve anxiety.
➢ Here you will find a description of the most
commonly used drugs in dental care.

3. ➢ The dose of the drugs and instructions on how to
take them will differ from patient to patient,
depending on what the drug is being used for,
patient’s age, weight, and other considerations.
➢ One of the most commonly reported dental
complications involves various levels of pain. Due
to this fact, pain management is an important
goal for all dentists and patients.

4. Medications used in Dentistry:
1. Medications to control pain and anxiety
2. Anti-inflammatory medications
3. Anesthetics
4. Medications to control plaque and gingivitis
5. Antibiotics
6. Medications to prevent tooth decay
7. Dry mouth medications
8. Muscle Relaxants
9. Antifungals

5. 1 – Medications to control pain and anxiety
➢ Local anesthesia, general anesthesia, nitrous
oxide, or intravenous sedation are commonly
used in dental procedures to help control pain and
anxiety.
➢ ANALGESICS; to prevent pain, the clinician may
chose from opioid and nonopioid analgesics.

6. NSAIDs
1. COX1:
Ibuprofen, ketorolac, flurbiprofen, ketoprofen,
diclofenac, aspirin
2. COX2:
Celecoxib, rofecoxib, and nimesulide

7. ➢ The commonly used non-opioids are: NSAIDs
• NSAIDs provide excellent analgesia for mild to
moderate pain.
• Partially useful in the initial management of pain
that has an inflammatory component.
• All NSAIDs have greater potency as analgesics
and antipyretics than as anti-inflammatory
agents.

8. ➢ Selected Non-opioid Analgesics Useful for
Reducing Postoperative Pain and Inflammation;
1. Ibuprofen (Motrin)
2. Naproxen (Anaprox)
3. Diclofenac (Cataflam)
4. Acetaaminophen (Tylenol)
➢ It is acceptable to combine an NSAID with
acetaminophen.
➢ All NSAIDs should be avoided in patients
presenting a history of allergy to any NSAID, GI
ulcerations, renal compromise, anticoagulant
therapy or bleeding disorder, or pregnancy.

9. 2. Opioid Analgesics
➢ Opioids used for treating moderate to moderately
severe pain
➢ The practitioner should consider the use of opioid
therapy for the short term management of
breakthrough pain that is not responsive to
NSAIDs or acetaminophen.
➢ Examples:
1. Hydrocodone and Oxycodone
2. Tramadol
3. Meperidine
4. Propoxyphene and Pentazocine

10. 2. Anti-inflammatory Medications
➢ Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory
medications that are used to relieve the
discomfort and redness of mouth and gum
problems.
➢ Corticosteroids such as Orabase-HCA, Oracort,
and Oralone are anti-inflammatory medications.
➢ Corticosteroids used in different forms can be
given intralesionally, topically, and even
systemically.

11. ➢ Sometimes it may be given to control edema, whereas in
some situations, it is given because of its
immunosuppressive properties.
➢ Corticosteroids play an important role in the management
of lesions affecting the oral mucosa and skin. In addition, its
importance in medical emergencies cannot be neglected.

12. Dental uses of Corticosteroids
• Systemic steroids are often effective in the
treatment of oral lesions due to noninfectious
inflammatory diseases.
• Topical use: non-infections, ulcerative diseases in
oral cavity. Inhibite the inflammatory reactions,
redness and edema.
• Systemic use: third molar extraction, minor and
major surgery to reduce edema, pain, trismus.
Temporomandibular joint disorders, oral
submucous fibrosis.

13. 3. Anesthetics
➢ Topical anesthetics come in ointments, sprays or liquids.
Topical anesthetics are used to prevent pain on the surface
level of the lining of the mouth.
➢ Used to reduce pain from superficial sores in the mouth or to
numb an area before injectable local anesthetic is given.
➢ Commonly used topical anesthetics include Anbesol and
Orajel.

14. Anbesol; Instant Pain Relief
• Toothaches
• Gum Pain
• Canker Sores
• Denture Pain
Components:
• 20% Benzocaine to relieve oral pain
• Antiseptic to help prevent infections

15. ➢ Local anesthetics are injected into the deeper tissues
of the mouth and work by inhibiting the impulses from
pain-sensing nerves and hence are used to reduce pain
especially in procedures involving drilling, and cutting
of the tissue.
➢ Common local anesthetics are 2% Lidocaine
hydrochloride and 2% Mepivacaine.

16. ➢ General anesthetics are inhaled and include anti-
anxiety agents, such as nitrous oxide, that help to
ensure relaxation during dental visits and often may be
used along with local anesthetics.
➢ Anesthetics are used for temporary pain relief, and
should not be used for long durations of time.

17. 4. Medications to Control Plaque and Gingivitis
➢ Chlorhexidine is an antibiotic that controls plaque and
gingivitis in the mouth or in periodontal pockets (the
space between your gum and tooth).
➢ The medication is available as a mouth rinse.
➢ Dental products containing this antibacterial are
marketed under various prescription – only brand
names, such as Peridex, PerioChip, PerioGard, and
Enziclor, as well as other over-the counter trade
names.

18. 5. Antibiotics
➢ Antibiotics such; as Pencillin and amoxicillin (Amoxil)
are used for a variety of infections that may result
after dental procedures.
➢ Erythromycine is usually prescribed when patients
have allergies to penicillin or amoxilline.

19. ➢ Clindamycine often is used in the treatment of serious
infections caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria
and hence are effective for dental abscesses in bone
and soft tissue that doesn’t respond adequately to
penicillin or erythromycin.
➢ Tetracyclines, such as doxycycline (Atridox) is used to
help treat Periodontal Diseases.

20. ➢ Another use of antibiotics in dentistry is for preventing
bacteria that are always present on the surface of
tissues around teeth from spreading into the blood.
➢ This is especially important in patients with some
types of defective or artificial hear valves since blood-
born bacteria have a tendency to settle on the valves
and cause serious infections.

21. 6. Medications to Prevent Tooth Decay
➢ Fluoride is used to prevent tooth decay and is
available on a nonprescription basis in many
toothpastes.
➢ It is absorbed by teeth and helps strengthen teeth to
resist acid and block the cavity-forming action of
bacteria.
➢ Prescription-Strength fluoride is available as a liquid,
tablet, and chewable tablet. It usually is taken once
daily.

22. 7. Dry Mouth Medications
➢ If you have been diagnosed with dry mouth, your
dentist may prescribe Pilocarpine.The drug
stimulates production of saliva.
➢ Saliva substitutes such as Moi-Stir, Mouth Kote,
Optimoist, Saliva Substitute, Salivar, Salix, and Xero-
Lube are used for treating dry mouth, an occasional
complication of autoimmune diseases or occasionally
unassociated with other diseases.

23. Commercially Availbe:
• Orabalance
• XERO-Lube
• Salivart
• Optimoist

24. 8. Muscle Relaxants
➢ When there is a muscular pain in a facial, cervical or
mandibular region, and there is tightness in the
muscles of these region. Muscles relaxants are often
prescribed.
➢ Muscle relaxants are indicated for jaw locking, trismus,
masticatory and cervical myofascial pain.

25. Muscle Relaxants often Prescribed are:
• Carisoprodol
• Cyclobenxaprine
• Metaxalone
• Chlorzoxazone
• Methocarbamol
• Orphenadrine
Some drugs are not mentioned such as benzodiazepines and
baclofen, because these drugs are used in muscular
hyperactivity related to neurological condition such as spinal
cord injury, head trauma, and multiple sclerosis.

26. 9. Antifungals
➢ Antifungals are prescribed to treat oral thrush.
➢ The goal of treatment is to stop the spread of the
Candida fungus.
➢ Antifungal medications are available inTablets,
Lozenges, or liquids that are usually “swishes” around
in your mouth before being swallowed.

27. ➢ Oral Candidiasis are treated by antifungal drugs
(Nystatin, Amphotericin-B, Miconazole and
Fluconazole) and disinfections (0.2% Chlorhexidine
gluconate mouth washes 3 or 4 times a day.

28. Medicine is a science of
uncertainty and an art
of probability.
William Osler

29. How to Write a Prescription?
Prescription has three parts:
1. Patient’s detail
2. Body (Medications)
3. Doctor’s detail

30. Patient’s Name___________ Address________________
Sex_____________________ Patient’s Language_______
Age_____________________
Rx;
Cap. Amoxilline 500mg, N=15, 1*3
Tab. Flagyl 400mg, N=15, 1*3
Sol. Chlorhexidien 0.2%, N=1Bottle 1*4
Injec.Vail or Ketorolac …………………….
Pomad/Oint. Somojel …………………….
.
.
.
Doctor’s Name:_H.Ehsan__ Doctor’s Signature:__________
Clinic:_Medenta Care_____
Doctor’s Contact No:______

31. ▪ Dose
▪ Dosage
▪ Generic Name of Medications
▪ Details for patient

32. THANK YOU/‫مننه‬
Ehsan_wardak