Prescribing antibiotics if you don't/can't diagnose the source of infection
( could you diagnose an apical infection without dental X-rays) is putting
yourself and the patient at risk. How do you defend the charge of having
missed/wrongly treated the mandibular osteomyelitis? Analgesia and see
dentist is the maximum a General Medical Practitioner should do IMHO.
It's neither your fault nor your problem that there isn't an adequate local
general dental practitioner service.
Emile
-----Original Message-----
From: GP-UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Jenny
Sent: 04 May 2004 20:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: dental prescribing
Thanks again Paul
How about any guidelines for treating dental emergencies?
What and when should we be diagnosing, treating and prescribing for patients
presenting with pain?
I thought I had read somewhere that it should all be referred to a dentist,
but cannot remember where I read it
I need to write a protocol for all the staff to follow.
Traditionally, here, the GPs px antibiotics and analgesia but a query has
raised its head and I am turning to my learned friends for help again!
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