What to Tell Your Dentist Before Getting Pain Medication

If you are dealing with dental pain, you need to get treatment as soon as possible. Sometimes this involves surgery that can be uncomfortable as you recover, requiring pain medication. In some cases, you even need it before your procedure, such as if you have to wait a few weeks for your scheduled appointment. In the meantime, you may need to be prescribed pills to help numb your nerves and get rid of the discomfort so you can function. Your dentist will be in charge of giving you the correct medication, but you have a say in it, too, so consider some points before you accept a prescription.

Your dentist will go by the information you provided on your paperwork. Dental questionnaires tend to ask if you are allergic to any drugs or food, as well as if you have had any surgeries or conditions in the past. You need to fill these forms out properly, taking into consideration both past and current details, in order to get the right medication. This is because some drugs are not good for patients with heart problems, mental issues, or past problems with addiction. At the same time, you need to let the dentist know which drugs you are currently taking, as some do not interact well with others, or could lead to overdose of certain substances when you combine them with pain pills.

You should also consider your current lifestyle when your practitioner prescribes medication. For example, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, make sure you let your dentist know since many medications are not okay to take during this time. They may cause harm to you or your baby, so the practitioner would need to offer an alternative or give you different instructions on how to take the pills. If you smoke or drink alcohol often, you are also supposed to mention this to your practitioner since these habits can change which medications are best for you.

Finally, consider how pain pills would affect your current life. If you need to work while you take them, you will need something that does not affect your mind too much, as some drugs are known for making it hard to think clearly. If you have to drive or operate heavy machinery for work, you are especially advised to make sure the dental office knows this. Taking care of children is another thing that many people are not able to do while on certain medications, so ask the dental office for a pill that would allow you to still be a caretaker.

If you are not sure that your dentist prescribed you the right drug for your situation, you can ask the pharmacist to be sure. In fact, you will probably get a brief consultation when you pick up the medication, at which time you can ask questions and ensure that it will work for you. Note that many drugs do more than just take away dental pain, so it is better to be safe than sorry before taking anything.