Health or Medications Changed? What to Tell Your Dentist Before a Checkup
TL;DR
Tell your dental team about changes to your health, medicines or allergies before your checkup so they can review what matters for your care. A new diagnosis or medicine does not automatically mean your exam or cleaning must be postponed.
- Mention new diagnoses, significant changes to existing conditions, recent hospital stays or surgery, and new allergies or reactions.
- Bring an updated list of prescriptions, non-prescription medicines, natural health products and supplements, including each product’s name, dose and when you take it.
- Call before the visit if you are unsure about a significant health change or your medication list is unclear. Do not change a medicine on your own for a dental appointment.
If your health or medications have changed since your last dental checkup, you do not need to decide on your own whether the change affects your visit. Tell the dental team what changed so they can review it with you. Ontario’s dental regulator, the RCDSO, explains that dentists need current, relevant medical information to plan care.
What should you tell the dental office?
Before your next checkup, make a note of:
- Health changes: a new diagnosis, a significant change in an existing condition, or a recent hospital stay or surgery.
- Medication changes: anything you have started, stopped or had adjusted since your last visit. Include prescriptions, non-prescription medicines, natural health products and supplements.
- New allergies or reactions: tell the team what you reacted to and, if you know, what happened.
- Other clinicians involved in your care: bring their contact details if the dental team may need to clarify something about your health or medicines.
The Canadian Dental Association advises patients to tell their dentist about new medications, including supplements. Even if a change seems unrelated to your teeth, mention it and let the dental team decide what follow-up is relevant.
Bring a medication list you can actually use
A list on paper or your phone is fine. For each medicine or product, record its name, dose and when you take it. Health Canada’s Medication Chart also provides space for why you take a product and any side effects you have noticed. If you are unsure of a name or dose, bring the packaging or ask your pharmacist to help you update the list.
When should you call before the checkup?
If you have had a significant health change and are unsure whether it affects your upcoming appointment, call before the visit. You can also call if your medication list is unclear or you want to know which details the office needs. Otherwise, bring your updates and review them with the team before your examination. A new diagnosis or medicine does not automatically mean your exam or cleaning must be postponed.
Do not change a medication for a dental appointment on your own. If there is a question about how a medicine relates to dental care, your dentist can discuss the plan with you and, when appropriate, coordinate with your prescriber or pharmacist.
A simple next step in Hamilton
If you have a checkup planned at Excel Dental, bring your updated list and mention any changes before your examination. For a significant change you are unsure about, call 905-529-2164 beforehand to ask what information the team needs. You can learn more about our general dental care while the team helps you work through the details of your visit.
This article is for general education only and does not replace personalized advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed dentist.
