2017 Volume 43 Issue 6 Pages 320-327
Maintaining the oral cavity function is important in the intake of medicine and for the effectiveness of the medication itself. However, little is known about the need for medical, dental and pharmacological cooperation. We conducted a questionnaire survey related to side effects in the oral cavity in community pharmacies (n = 272) near our hospital belonging to the Pharmaceutical Association. We obtained responses from 120 pharmacies (44.1％). We also obtained comments from some dentists and a dental hygienist about the responses.
From the survey results, 75％, 60％ and 40％ of pharmacies have experienced consultation from patients concerning deglutition, dry mouth and gingival hyperplasia, respectively. It was revealed that a lot of pharmacies are consulted by patients about side effects in the oral cavity.
Eighty percent of pharmacies alerted patients to bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. However, many pharmacists were concerned that they didn't know the initial symptoms and when bisphosphonate should be discontinued prior to dental treatment. These dentists commented that it would be better for the patients to consult with a dentist whenever the patients felt discomfort in their oral cavity.
In this study, it became clear that pharmacists and dentists need to exchange information and cooperate with each other. Community pharmacists can contribute to appropriate pharmacotherapy by preventing serious adverse effects using the knowledge of oral cavity medications, because patients first consult the pharmacists regarding the medication.
