Respiratory
Dental Management of Patients with Asthma
Avoid NSAIDs if aspirin-sensitive; have inhaler available
Ensure the patient brings their reliever inhaler; avoid NSAIDs in aspirin-sensitive asthma; minimise anxiety triggers.
Emergency vs routine management
If EMERGENCY — what to do
- • Acute attack: stop, sit upright, salbutamol 4–10 puffs via spacer (repeat every 10–20 min), oxygen; call emergency services if no improvement.Ref: Resuscitation Council UK. Medical emergencies and resuscitation — Standards for dental practice, 2020 (updated 2023)
- • Avoid NSAIDs/aspirin in NSAID-sensitive asthma.Ref: Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Report 2024
If ROUTINE — what to do
- • Patient brings the reliever inhaler; use it before the appointment if advised.Ref: Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Report 2024
- • Defer elective care during poor control or a recent exacerbation.Ref: Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Report 2024
Clinical precautions
- • Patient's reliever inhaler chairside
- • Avoid NSAIDs in aspirin-sensitive asthma
- • Stress reduction; caution with sulfite-containing LA
At a glance by procedure
Initial assessment before lab results or timing details are entered.
| Procedure | Initial assessment |
|---|---|
| Examination / radiographs | MODIFY / CAUTION Avoid NSAIDs if aspirin-sensitive; have inhaler available |
| Supragingival scaling / polish | MODIFY / CAUTION Avoid NSAIDs if aspirin-sensitive; have inhaler available |
| Deep scaling / subgingival RSD (subgingival calculus) | MODIFY / CAUTION Avoid NSAIDs if aspirin-sensitive; have inhaler available |
| Root canal treatment | MODIFY / CAUTION Avoid NSAIDs if aspirin-sensitive; have inhaler available |
| Simple extraction (1–3 teeth) | MODIFY / CAUTION Avoid NSAIDs if aspirin-sensitive; have inhaler available |
| Surgical / bony extraction | MODIFY / CAUTION Avoid NSAIDs if aspirin-sensitive; have inhaler available |
| Implant placement | MODIFY / CAUTION Avoid NSAIDs if aspirin-sensitive; have inhaler available |
References
- Asthma / COPD — dental considerations
- Resuscitation Council UK. Medical emergencies and resuscitation — Standards for dental practice, 2020 (updated 2023)
- Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Report 2024
Related guides
This guide supports — and does not replace — professional clinical judgment. Always consider the individual patient and consult the treating physician when indicated.