Pharmacy and Dentistry Relationship to Improve Patient Experience

Abstract

The most frequent set of healthcare visits are dental ones, as 60% of all healthcare-related visits are to dental clinics. Patients might attend dental clinics with undiagnosed diseases and ailments, and occasionally dentists might uncover some medication-related complications like pain, bloating, gastric upset, psychosis, confusion, etc. Pharmacy and dentistry professions collaboratively aim to enhance patient experience. Medications for chronic ailments like hypertension, anxiety, diabetes, rheumatic disease, etc. are prescribed and over-use might lead to severe complications. Non-compliance and changes in medications are common after patients move to hospitals, and thereby change of medication can lead to disease flare-ups and serious complications. Health screening prior to surgery and medication review and re-counsel by education of side effects and drug interaction are vital to enhance patient safety and also preventive aspect of care. Dentists alone have to ask about medication history for 100+ patients so the work burden might make inefficiency and affect patient safety. Pharmacy and dentistry interactions or collaborations are simple but very effective to enhance patient experience.