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UK Dental Medicines Advisory Service - questions asked by dentists: part 3 - prescribing of anxiolytic medications in dental practice

British Dental Journal volume 231, pages 556–561 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

The UK Dental Medicines Advisory Service (UKDMAS) provides advice to dentists and other dental healthcare professionals concerning the use of medicines and medical devices in dentistry. The commonly asked questions posed to the UKDMAS concerning the prescribing, administering or dispensing of oral anxiolytic medicines in dental practice are discussed with answers supplemented by relevant information from clinicians. These include: types of oral anxiolytics available, prescribing guidelines, appropriate dosing regimens, indications and contraindications to prescribing and drug interactions.

Key points

  • The UK Dental Medicines Advisory Service (UKDMAS) provides advice to dentists and other dental healthcare workers on the prescribing of medicines, and the use of medicines and medical devices in dental practice.

  • This article highlights some of the commonly asked questions posed by dentists or other members of the dental team to the UKDMAS, concerning the prescribing of oral anxiolytic medications. The answers given are supplemented by information provided by clinicians from a range of dental specialties.

  • Oral anxiolytics can be a useful adjunct for managing dental anxiety in a primary dental care setting. However, dental practitioners must ensure that they have a thorough understanding of the indications and contraindications and appropriate dosing regimens before prescribing anxiolytic medications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ACF in Special Care Dentistry, University Dental Hospital Manchester, Higher Cambridge Street, Manchester, M15 6FH, UK

    Kathryn Finn

  2. Consultant of Special Care Dentistry, Liverpool University Dental Hospital, Pembroke Place, L3 5PS, UK

    Andrew Kwasnicki

  3. Consultant/Honorary Professor of Oral Medicine, Liverpool University Dental Hospital, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5PS, UK

    E. Anne Field

  4. Assistant Director, North West Medicines Information Centre, 70 Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L69 3G, UK

    Christine Randall

Authors
  1. Kathryn Finn
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  2. Andrew Kwasnicki
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  3. E. Anne Field
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  4. Christine Randall
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Correspondence to E. Anne Field.

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Finn, K., Kwasnicki, A., Field, E. et al. UK Dental Medicines Advisory Service - questions asked by dentists: part 3 - prescribing of anxiolytic medications in dental practice. Br Dent J 231, 556–561 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-021-3568-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-021-3568-9

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