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UK Dental Medicines Advisory Service: questions asked by dentists - part 2: drugs used for medical emergencies in dental practice

British Dental Journal volume 231, pages 458–462 (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 and administering of dental emergency drugs in dental practice are discussed, with answers supplemented by relevant information from clinicians. These include the drugs that need to be stocked in the emergency drugs kit in dental practice, their formats and storage, and the restrictions on which members of the dental team can administer the drugs.

Key points

  • The UK Dental Medicines Advisory Service (UKDMAS) provides advice to dentists and other dental healthcare workers concerning 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 storage, prescribing and administration of 'dental emergency drugs'.

  • Training for the dental team in the selection and administration of emergency drugs, including an appreciation of the scope of practice of different members of the dental team, is essential so that medical emergencies can be managed appropriately.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Lecturer in Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery/Honorary Speciality Dentist in Oral Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Liverpool, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5PS, UK

    Gillian L. Barker

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

    E. Anne Field

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

    Christine Randall

Authors
  1. Gillian L. Barker
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  2. E. Anne Field
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  3. Christine Randall
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Correspondence to E. Anne Field.

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Barker, G., Field, E. & Randall, C. UK Dental Medicines Advisory Service: questions asked by dentists - part 2: drugs used for medical emergencies in dental practice. Br Dent J 231, 458–462 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-021-3529-3

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