Abstract
Although drug eruptions are rarely chief complaints in dental practice, there are cases in which oral mucosal lesions such as stomatitis present suspicions of drug eruptions. Drug eruptions are often caused by drugs frequently prescribed in dentistry, such as antibacterial agents, antipyretic analgesics, and anti-inflammatory drugs, so they are also encountered in dentistry. The most common types of drug eruptions include fixed drug eruptions that develop on the same area of the skin and erythema multiforme with edematous erythema on the skin. Severe drug eruptions that require special attention, such as the potentially fatal Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (Lyell syndrome), may be diagnosed from symptoms of the oral mucosa during a dental visit. Therefore, careful observation by a dental health care professional and a drug history during a medical interview are particularly important when drug eruptions are suspected. These severe drug eruptions require prompt and smooth treatment, which requires collaboration with other departments such as dermatology. Therefore, it is necessary to deepen understanding of basic information on drug eruptions that may be encountered in dentistry, initial responses through medical interviews, and procedures that can be performed in dentistry. In addition, it is desirable to have knowledge on standard proceedings of providing medical information when drug eruptions are suspected in dental care because sharing medical information in cooperation with other departments leads to early detection and early treatment.
