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Interprofessional cooperation
editorials
Interprofessional cooperation
For a number of years, Accepted Dental Remedies, a book published annually by the Association under the supervision of its Council on Dental Therapeutics, has contained chapters on the treatment of dental patients receiving medical care and the treatment of emergencies in the dental office. These chapters indicate some of the areas in which dentistry and medicine overlap and illustrate the importance of close cooperation of dentists and physicians in providing optimal health care. The need for such cooperation appears to be keeping pace with the increasing quality and complexity of both dental and medical care. In this issue of t h e j o u r n a l a Portland, Oregon physician notes the increasing frequency with which dentists are seeking the advice of physicians, and he cites a few of the “ situations in which the dentist should seek assistance and the physician should respond.” This advice is good, but there are also instances in which physicians should seek the consultation of dentists. The report of the Council on Dental Therapeutics on the effects of tetracyclines on teeth— also published in this issue— provides a good example of such an instance. When administered to patients during periods of tooth formation, the tetracyclines can cause yellow or brown discoloration and hypoplasia of the dental enamel. Physicians, particularly pediatricians and obstetricians, treat persons in these periods of life, and the Council report suggests that “ obstetricians and pediatricians may wish dental consultation in this matter.” Physicians may wish to avoid prescribing tetracyclines during the tooth-forming period if other antibiotics will suffice, and both physicians and dentists should avoid if possible the use of tetra cyclines in patients in the last trimester of pregnancy. This is not to say that dentists should advise complete abstinence from tetracyclines in the young, because there are, of course, many instances in which their use is indicated regardless of the undesirable effects they may have on the developing teeth. O f far greater significance than the Council’s report on tetracyclines, however, is one on the management of dental problems in patients with cardiovascular diseases. This is to appear in the March, 1964 issue of t h e j o u r n a l and is the report of a working conference jointly sponsored by the American Dental Association and the American Heart Association. The report bears the approval of the appropriate agencies of both organizations. It is perhaps the best current example of the gains which can accrue from the cooperative efforts of highly qualified dentists and physicians, and it should be read by all members of both professions.
Interprofessional cooperation
For a number of years, Accepted Dental Remedies, a book published annually by the Association under the supervision of its Council on Dental Therapeutics, has contained chapters on the treatment of dental patients receiving medical care and the treatment of emergencies in the dental office. These chapters indicate some of the areas in which dentistry and medicine overlap and illustrate the importance of close cooperation of dentists and physicians in providing optimal health care. The need for such cooperation appears to be keeping pace with the increasing quality and complexity of both dental and medical care. In this issue of t h e j o u r n a l a Portland, Oregon physician notes the increasing frequency with which dentists are seeking the advice of physicians, and he cites a few of the “ situations in which the dentist should seek assistance and the physician should respond.” This advice is good, but there are also instances in which physicians should seek the consultation of dentists. The report of the Council on Dental Therapeutics on the effects of tetracyclines on teeth— also published in this issue— provides a good example of such an instance. When administered to patients during periods of tooth formation, the tetracyclines can cause yellow or brown discoloration and hypoplasia of the dental enamel. Physicians, particularly pediatricians and obstetricians, treat persons in these periods of life, and the Council report suggests that “ obstetricians and pediatricians may wish dental consultation in this matter.” Physicians may wish to avoid prescribing tetracyclines during the tooth-forming period if other antibiotics will suffice, and both physicians and dentists should avoid if possible the use of tetra cyclines in patients in the last trimester of pregnancy. This is not to say that dentists should advise complete abstinence from tetracyclines in the young, because there are, of course, many instances in which their use is indicated regardless of the undesirable effects they may have on the developing teeth. O f far greater significance than the Council’s report on tetracyclines, however, is one on the management of dental problems in patients with cardiovascular diseases. This is to appear in the March, 1964 issue of t h e j o u r n a l and is the report of a working conference jointly sponsored by the American Dental Association and the American Heart Association. The report bears the approval of the appropriate agencies of both organizations. It is perhaps the best current example of the gains which can accrue from the cooperative efforts of highly qualified dentists and physicians, and it should be read by all members of both professions.