The Rise of Polypharmacy in Older Adults
Polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications by a single patient, is increasingly common in older adults. According to a recent study, the average Canadian aged 45 to 64 years old takes 4.5 prescription drugs. With age-related changes in metabolism and the growing prevalence of chronic conditions, the average Canadian aged 65 and older now takes 5.5 prescription drugs. Women, especially after age 50, are more likely than men to be on multiple medications. While these medications can be essential, polypharmacy in older adults brings challenges that affect both overall health and oral care.
The Dangers of Polypharmacy in Older Adults
Polypharmacy in older adults poses significant risks, including:
Adverse drug reactions: When multiple medications are taken together, there is an increased risk of unexpected drug reactions and adverse drug reactions due to interactions between medications or because of the medications themselves.
Increased hospitalizations: Patients taking multiple medications are at higher risk of being hospitalized due to drug-related complications.
Impaired cognitive function: Polypharmacy can lead to impaired cognitive function, including memory loss and confusion.
Falls and fractures: Certain medications can increase the risk of falls and fractures in older adults.
Financial burden: Taking multiple medications can be expensive and may create a financial burden on patients, impacting their ability to access dental care.
The Effects of Polypharmacy on Oral Health
Older adults managing multiple medications are at greater risk of oral health complications, including:
Xerostomia: Many medications, especially when used in combination, can cause dry mouth, increasing the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and discomfort.
Increased bleeding: Blood-thinning medications like Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) and Warfarin can increase the risk of gross bleeding during dental procedures.
Oral candidiasis: Patients taking antibiotics or corticosteroids (in particular inhaled corticosteroids) are at a high risk of developing oral candidiasis, a fungal infection of the mouth, if proper precautions are not adhered to by the patient.
Poor healing: Certain medications like immunosuppressants can slow down the healing process, which can affect dental procedures such as extractions or implant placement. Given the advent of monoclonal antibody medications (MABs), immunosuppression is now increasingly prevalent.
How to Avoid Polypharmacy in Dentistry
It is more important now than ever that dentists play a key role in managing their patients' health.
Dental professionals can help manage polypharmacy by:
Obtaining a complete medication history: Dental professionals are required (but are not always able) to obtain a complete medication history from patients to identify potential drug interactions and manage any medication-related side effects.
Consulting with healthcare providers: Dental professionals are able to consult with patients’ healthcare providers to ensure that dental treatments do not interfere with medications and vice versa.
Adjusting treatment plans: Dental professionals may need to adjust treatment plans based on patients’ medication regimens and health conditions to minimize the risk of adverse effects.
Educating patients: Dental professionals should inform patients of the potential effects of their medications on their oral health and the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.
Now more than ever, polypharmacy is having an increasingly significant impact on your dental clinic. DentalRx can help you ensure that patients receive safe and effective treatment by obtaining a complete medication history directly in our mobile app.
Play your part with DentalRx
References
Masnoon, N., Shakib, S., Kalisch-Ellett, L., & Caughey, G. E. (2017). What is polypharmacy? A systematic review of definitions. BMC Geriatrics, 17(1), 230. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-017-0621-2
Maher, R. L., Hanlon, J., & Hajjar, E. R. (2014). Clinical consequences of polypharmacy in the elderly. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety, 13(1), 57–65. https://doi.org/10.1517/14740338.2013.827660
Bushardt, R. L., Massey, E. B., Simpson, T. W., Ariail, J. C., & Simpson, K. N. (2008). Polypharmacy: Misleading, but manageable. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 3(2), 383–389. https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.s2463
Jandu, J. S., Mohanaselvan, A., Dahal, R., & Bista, S. (2024). Strategies to reduce polypharmacy in older adults. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574550/
The Rise of Polypharmacy in Older Adults
Polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications by a single patient, is increasingly common in older adults. According to a recent study, the average Canadian aged 45 to 64 years old takes 4.5 prescription drugs. With age-related changes in metabolism and the growing prevalence of chronic conditions, the average Canadian aged 65 and older now takes 5.5 prescription drugs. Women, especially after age 50, are more likely than men to be on multiple medications. While these medications can be essential, polypharmacy in older adults brings challenges that affect both overall health and oral care.
The Dangers of Polypharmacy in Older Adults
Polypharmacy in older adults poses significant risks, including:
Adverse drug reactions: When multiple medications are taken together, there is an increased risk of unexpected drug reactions and adverse drug reactions due to interactions between medications or because of the medications themselves.
Increased hospitalizations: Patients taking multiple medications are at higher risk of being hospitalized due to drug-related complications.
Impaired cognitive function: Polypharmacy can lead to impaired cognitive function, including memory loss and confusion.
Falls and fractures: Certain medications can increase the risk of falls and fractures in older adults.
Financial burden: Taking multiple medications can be expensive and may create a financial burden on patients, impacting their ability to access dental care.
The Effects of Polypharmacy on Oral Health
Older adults managing multiple medications are at greater risk of oral health complications, including:
Xerostomia: Many medications, especially when used in combination, can cause dry mouth, increasing the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and discomfort.
Increased bleeding: Blood-thinning medications like Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) and Warfarin can increase the risk of gross bleeding during dental procedures.
Oral candidiasis: Patients taking antibiotics or corticosteroids (in particular inhaled corticosteroids) are at a high risk of developing oral candidiasis, a fungal infection of the mouth, if proper precautions are not adhered to by the patient.
Poor healing: Certain medications like immunosuppressants can slow down the healing process, which can affect dental procedures such as extractions or implant placement. Given the advent of monoclonal antibody medications (MABs), immunosuppression is now increasingly prevalent.
How to Avoid Polypharmacy in Dentistry
It is more important now than ever that dentists play a key role in managing their patients' health.
Dental professionals can help manage polypharmacy by:
Obtaining a complete medication history: Dental professionals are required (but are not always able) to obtain a complete medication history from patients to identify potential drug interactions and manage any medication-related side effects.
Consulting with healthcare providers: Dental professionals are able to consult with patients’ healthcare providers to ensure that dental treatments do not interfere with medications and vice versa.
Adjusting treatment plans: Dental professionals may need to adjust treatment plans based on patients’ medication regimens and health conditions to minimize the risk of adverse effects.
Educating patients: Dental professionals should inform patients of the potential effects of their medications on their oral health and the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.
Now more than ever, polypharmacy is having an increasingly significant impact on your dental clinic. DentalRx can help you ensure that patients receive safe and effective treatment by obtaining a complete medication history directly in our mobile app.
Play your part with DentalRx
References
Masnoon, N., Shakib, S., Kalisch-Ellett, L., & Caughey, G. E. (2017). What is polypharmacy? A systematic review of definitions. BMC Geriatrics, 17(1), 230. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-017-0621-2
Maher, R. L., Hanlon, J., & Hajjar, E. R. (2014). Clinical consequences of polypharmacy in the elderly. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety, 13(1), 57–65. https://doi.org/10.1517/14740338.2013.827660
Bushardt, R. L., Massey, E. B., Simpson, T. W., Ariail, J. C., & Simpson, K. N. (2008). Polypharmacy: Misleading, but manageable. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 3(2), 383–389. https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.s2463
Jandu, J. S., Mohanaselvan, A., Dahal, R., & Bista, S. (2024). Strategies to reduce polypharmacy in older adults. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574550/
The Rise of Polypharmacy in Older Adults
Polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications by a single patient, is increasingly common in older adults. According to a recent study, the average Canadian aged 45 to 64 years old takes 4.5 prescription drugs. With age-related changes in metabolism and the growing prevalence of chronic conditions, the average Canadian aged 65 and older now takes 5.5 prescription drugs. Women, especially after age 50, are more likely than men to be on multiple medications. While these medications can be essential, polypharmacy in older adults brings challenges that affect both overall health and oral care.
The Dangers of Polypharmacy in Older Adults
Polypharmacy in older adults poses significant risks, including:
Adverse drug reactions: When multiple medications are taken together, there is an increased risk of unexpected drug reactions and adverse drug reactions due to interactions between medications or because of the medications themselves.
Increased hospitalizations: Patients taking multiple medications are at higher risk of being hospitalized due to drug-related complications.
Impaired cognitive function: Polypharmacy can lead to impaired cognitive function, including memory loss and confusion.
Falls and fractures: Certain medications can increase the risk of falls and fractures in older adults.
Financial burden: Taking multiple medications can be expensive and may create a financial burden on patients, impacting their ability to access dental care.
The Effects of Polypharmacy on Oral Health
Older adults managing multiple medications are at greater risk of oral health complications, including:
Xerostomia: Many medications, especially when used in combination, can cause dry mouth, increasing the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and discomfort.
Increased bleeding: Blood-thinning medications like Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) and Warfarin can increase the risk of gross bleeding during dental procedures.
Oral candidiasis: Patients taking antibiotics or corticosteroids (in particular inhaled corticosteroids) are at a high risk of developing oral candidiasis, a fungal infection of the mouth, if proper precautions are not adhered to by the patient.
Poor healing: Certain medications like immunosuppressants can slow down the healing process, which can affect dental procedures such as extractions or implant placement. Given the advent of monoclonal antibody medications (MABs), immunosuppression is now increasingly prevalent.
How to Avoid Polypharmacy in Dentistry
It is more important now than ever that dentists play a key role in managing their patients' health.
Dental professionals can help manage polypharmacy by:
Obtaining a complete medication history: Dental professionals are required (but are not always able) to obtain a complete medication history from patients to identify potential drug interactions and manage any medication-related side effects.
Consulting with healthcare providers: Dental professionals are able to consult with patients’ healthcare providers to ensure that dental treatments do not interfere with medications and vice versa.
Adjusting treatment plans: Dental professionals may need to adjust treatment plans based on patients’ medication regimens and health conditions to minimize the risk of adverse effects.
Educating patients: Dental professionals should inform patients of the potential effects of their medications on their oral health and the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.
Now more than ever, polypharmacy is having an increasingly significant impact on your dental clinic. DentalRx can help you ensure that patients receive safe and effective treatment by obtaining a complete medication history directly in our mobile app.
Play your part with DentalRx
References
Masnoon, N., Shakib, S., Kalisch-Ellett, L., & Caughey, G. E. (2017). What is polypharmacy? A systematic review of definitions. BMC Geriatrics, 17(1), 230. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-017-0621-2
Maher, R. L., Hanlon, J., & Hajjar, E. R. (2014). Clinical consequences of polypharmacy in the elderly. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety, 13(1), 57–65. https://doi.org/10.1517/14740338.2013.827660
Bushardt, R. L., Massey, E. B., Simpson, T. W., Ariail, J. C., & Simpson, K. N. (2008). Polypharmacy: Misleading, but manageable. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 3(2), 383–389. https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.s2463
Jandu, J. S., Mohanaselvan, A., Dahal, R., & Bista, S. (2024). Strategies to reduce polypharmacy in older adults. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574550/
