Medical status of patients attending a primary care dental practice in Ireland.

Medical status of 1,500 patients attending a primary health care dental practice was examined by means of patient self-completed health questionnaire and by structured verbal interview by a dentist. Relevant medical histories and/or drug therapies affecting the practices of dentistry were found in 27.7% of patients. Problems identified included cardiovascular disease (10.4%), endocarditis risks (5.8%), hepatitis (7.9%), leukaemias (0.3%), bleeding tendencies (3%), drug allergies (7.0%), including penicillin allergy (3.6%) and intake of drugs affecting dentistry (6.0%). For most of these categories there was a marked increase in prevalence with increasing age and many categories contained many more women than could be expected from the male/female distribution of the total patient group.