Why does my dentist need my medical history?

September 26, 2019

You may be wondering why you need to fill out health history forms for your dentist. You already have those to your primary doctor. And why are they so detailed? There is a reason all of your doctors, including your dentist, ask for all of that information. The more information we have, the better your care will be and we can avoid aggravating other issues.

Your health condition isn’t the same now as is it was five years ago, and it won’t be the same five years from now. If you don’t update your medical history with your healthcare providers there’s no way of them knowing about these important changes. If you have any changes to your health including surgery, pregnancy, or any new health condition, share them with your entire medical team.

Some Important Information to Share

Having access to your current and previous health conditions can only help our dental office in Rosemount provide you with the best care that we can. Since there is such a strong connection between overall health and oral health, it’s important to provide us with as much information as possible, even it doesn’t appear to affect your mouth.

Some conditions we should absolutely be aware of include:

  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Autoimmune conditions
  • Epilepsy
  • Heart problems
  • Joint replacements
  • Pacemaker
  • Smoking
  • Medications taken

Why Medications?

We will also ask about what medications you take regularly, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines as well as herbal supplements. Why do we need to know this? Having a record of medications available will help us in the event that we need to prescribe you something so that nothing interacts. Many medications list dry mouth as a side effect. Dry mouth not only increases the risk for cavities, it can also lead to gum disease. Even though both of these conditions are treated easily in the early stages, they can lead to more significant problems in the future including a root canal or even tooth loss if left untreated.

Our dental office collects health history of each and every patient so that we can provide individualized care. We also make sure that all medical information is kept secure and private. If you have questions about our privacy policy or why we ask for certain information, don’t hesitate to ask one of our team members. We’re happy to help.





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