Newsletter: December 2017
In this newsletter
The Dental Council has recently received several notifications or queries relating to allergic reactions from patients.
The Ministry of Health has also been notified and provided us with the following statement:
“The Ministry of Health has been advised of two cases of allergic reactions after the application of a Casein Phospho Peptide (CPP)-containing fluoride paste by oral health practitioners. One of the reactions was severe. Both patients were known to have an allergy to milk products but in neither case was the patient/parent consulted about the application of the paste, which is not recommended for use in those with a milk allergy.
Oral health practitioners should be familiar with what products they are using and of any precautions advised by the manufacturers. Practitioners have a responsibility to check the patient’s medical history prior to commencing treatment and to confirm that any products or equipment used will not cause life threatening reactions.
Also of note is that the only fluoride varnish product currently approved in New Zealand for the prevention of dental caries is Colgate’s Duraphat Dental Varnish 5% w/v in the 10 mL and 30 mL multidose tubes. Please refer to the Medsafe website to identify those medicines approved for use in New Zealand.”
The key points for oral health practitioners:
- ensure you have an up to date medical history for your patient and review it at each visit
- know what is in the materials you are using—you should keep data sheets for all products
- when using new products, carefully familiarise yourself with warnings about adverse reactions
- use products approved by MedSafe.
Please also see this article from Allergy New Zealand.