Dealing with allergens

Whilst we are not in peak allergy season, every dental professional will know that threats can be encountered daily in the dental practice. Some solutions used in the practice can be troublesome for susceptible patients or clinicians, but thankfully, unfortunate outcomes can be avoided with an appropriate armamentarium.

Allergies can impact oral health over time – potentially resulting in dry mouth or malocclusion from mouth breathing because of irritated airways – but the greatest risks to a person’s health may be posed by the products used in everyday treatments.

Powerful reactions

When an at-risk patient interacts with an allergen, they can experience a variety of different effects. At their mildest, an individual may have a running nose or extensive sneezing, maybe even itchy skin or a raised rash.

In the most unfortunate situations, patients in the dental practice could experience anaphylaxis. This is an extreme allergic reaction that may transpire as swelling of the tongue and throat, and difficulty breathing or swallowing, amongst other symptoms, and it is life-threatening.