Introduction

Second, Do Good

Peter L. Jacobsen, PhD, DDS

Copyright 2000 Journal of the California Dental Association.

This edition of the Journal of the California Dental Association is the second in a two-part series on the dental management of medically complex patients. My introduction for that issue, "First, Do No Harm," outlined the range of articles, including a prototype modern health history translated into several languages. The issue also addressed different types of medical problems a dentist may encounter and resources to find more information. If you did not read that issue, definitely go back, find it in your pile of "things to be read," and at least look at the health history and compare it to the one you are currently using.

This current issue rounds out the information on medically complex patients and should make it clear that, in this medicolegal environment, doing no harm is important but now you must also be proactive, you have to do good. That means ordering appropriate tests, informing the patient about potential drug interactions, ensuring that the health history is updated, etc.

Dr. Day’s article is an excellent guide to approaching the treatment of patients with respiratory problems. Asthma is a common condition and knowing how to minimize complications in the dental office is very reassuring. Dr. Cohan and yours truly have provided a perspective on the newest area of medicine, alternative health products. The good news is that even though we always have to be on the alert for potential "drug" interactions, there are no obvious interactions with herbal products and the drugs used in dentistry and certainly no serious ones.

Dr. Budenz has taken a different approach. He selected the most common procedure in dental practice, local anesthesia, and reviewed a wide range of medical problems that can affect that procedure. It is a "must read" for general practitioners and provides a good perspective on the dental management of medically complex patients. Dr. Baker TK here.

This series of articles was made possible by the efforts of the authors and the staff at the CDA Journal. It was done with enthusiasm for you and your patients. If these efforts make it so that one less patient is harmed and even one doctor is spared the agony of "What could I have done differently?" then the effort was worth it.

Contributing Editor

Peter L. Jacobsen, PhD, DDS, is the director of oral medicine at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry.