Adverse drug reactions: oral and dental manifestations and complications.

Abstract

Adverse, that is unintended untoward effects of medications, are increasing in incidence and their severity, given the aging of the Australian and New Zealand population and associated drug use. Not only are the number of agents that our patients are using increasing, including the increased use of "alternate" or "complimentary" medications, but also their complexity, with the advent of potent, targeted, biological agents. The result is an increasing number of our patients will be at greater risk of adverse effects from their medications. These adverse effects include the impeding of the safe delivery of dental treatment and the adverse oral and dental manifestations and complications related to the use of medications.