Respiratory medications
Dental Considerations for Patients Taking Salbutamol inhaler (reliever)
Routine care — note drug considerations (salbutamol)
Record of salbutamol. The points below cover relevant oral side-effects and drug interactions so prescribing and treatment remain safe and non-conflicting.
Emergency vs routine management
If EMERGENCY — what to do
- • Acute bronchospasm: salbutamol 4–10 puffs via spacer, oxygen, call emergency services if no improvement.Ref: Resuscitation Council UK. Medical emergencies and resuscitation — Standards for dental practice, 2020 (updated 2023)
If ROUTINE — what to do
- • Reliever inhaler chairside; rinse after inhaled steroids to reduce candidiasis.Ref: Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Report 2024
Clinical precautions
- • Ensure the reliever inhaler is available chairside.
- • Inhaled drugs can cause oral candidiasis/dry mouth — advise rinsing after use.
- • Avoid prescribing drugs that interact; verify any new prescription against the patient's full medication list.
At a glance by procedure
Initial assessment before lab results or timing details are entered.
| Procedure | Initial assessment |
|---|---|
| Examination / radiographs | ROUTINE Routine care — note drug considerations (salbutamol) |
| Supragingival scaling / polish | ROUTINE Routine care — note drug considerations (salbutamol) |
| Deep scaling / subgingival RSD (subgingival calculus) | ROUTINE Routine care — note drug considerations (salbutamol) |
| Root canal treatment | ROUTINE Routine care — note drug considerations (salbutamol) |
| Simple extraction (1–3 teeth) | ROUTINE Routine care — note drug considerations (salbutamol) |
| Surgical / bony extraction | ROUTINE Routine care — note drug considerations (salbutamol) |
| Implant placement | ROUTINE Routine care — note drug considerations (salbutamol) |
References
- Drug considerations in dentistry (oral side-effects & interactions)
- Resuscitation Council UK. Medical emergencies and resuscitation — Standards for dental practice, 2020 (updated 2023)
- Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Report 2024
This guide supports — and does not replace — professional clinical judgment. Always consider the individual patient and consult the treating physician when indicated.