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Immunosuppressants and Biologics in Dentistry: What UK Dental Teams Need to Know
Patients taking immunosuppressants such as methotrexate, adalimumab and azathioprine are becoming increasingly common in UK dental practice. These medications can significantly impact dental care, increasing the risk of infection, delaying healing, and affecting prescribing decisions.
This in-depth guide explains the key dental implications of these drugs, highlights important signs and symptoms to look out for, and outlines safe, evidence-based management in line with UK guidelines. A must-read for dental professionals looking to provide safe, effective care for immunocompromised patients.
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Patients taking levothyroxine are very common in dental practice, as the medication is widely prescribed to treat hypothyroidism and other thyroid disorders. While levothyroxine itself usually has minimal direct impact on dental treatment, underlying thyroid conditions can influence cardiovascular stability, stress response, healing, and the safe use of certain dental medications.
This article provides dental professionals with a practical overview of thyroid disease, levothyroxine, and dental care considerations, including key signs and symptoms to recognise, potential oral manifestations, drug interactions, and rare but serious medical emergencies such as thyroid storm and myxoedema coma. Understanding how thyroid conditions affect patients helps dental teams deliver safer, more informed treatment and recognise possible complications during dental procedures.
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What Every Dental Practice Needs to Know.
Bisphosphonates such as alendronic acid, risedronate, and zoledronic acid are commonly prescribed for osteoporosis and cancer-related bone conditions. While these medications improve bone strength, they can pose a serious risk in dentistry — particularly the development of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) following dental extractions or other invasive procedures.
In this blog, we explore how bisphosphonates affect bone healing in the jaw, the difference between oral and IV therapies, and the key steps dental teams must take to safely manage patients taking these medications. You’ll also learn how to assess risk, recognise early signs of MRONJ, and follow best-practice guidance when planning extractions or oral surgery.
This guide is essential reading for dentists, dental hygienists, therapists, and dental nurses who want to improve patient safety and ensure compliance with current dental care recommendations.
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Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions in the UK, meaning dental professionals frequently treat patients who use inhalers such as Salbutamol, Beclomethasone, Fluticasone, and Seretide. While these medications help control airway inflammation and prevent asthma attacks, they can also have important oral health implications that dental teams should recognise.
In this guide, we explore the most commonly prescribed asthma medications and their relevance to dentistry, including how steroid inhalers can increase the risk of oral candidiasis, dry mouth, and dental caries. The article also explains the signs and symptoms dental professionals should look for, practical chairside considerations, and how to reduce oral complications linked to inhaler use.
We also outline best practice protocols for managing asthma patients in dental practice, including ensuring patients bring their reliever inhaler to appointments, understanding asthma emergency procedures, and identifying early signs of an asthma attack during treatment.
This comprehensive guide is designed to help dentists, dental hygienists, therapists, and the wider dental team safely manage patients with asthma while improving preventative oral care.
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