Asthma Dental Precautions — ORE Part 1 MCQ

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EasyHuman Disease & Dental ManagementAsthma Dental PrecautionsORE Part 1

A patient with well-controlled asthma, treated with inhaled salbutamol and beclomethasone, attends for routine dental treatment. Which is the most appropriate precaution?

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Correct answer: B — Confirm that their salbutamol inhaler is available during treatment

Routine dental treatment is appropriate for a patient whose asthma is well controlled. The practical precaution is to confirm that the patient’s reliever inhaler is immediately available, because salbutamol is used to relieve acute asthma symptoms. There is no indication to stop or defer routine care, prescribe prophylactic oral prednisolone, or arrange general anaesthesia. Adrenaline-containing local anaesthetic is not absolutely contraindicated in asthma. Such solutions may contain sodium metabisulphite, and sulphite sensitivity occurs more often in people with asthma, but it is uncommon; avoid it only where there is a relevant history of sulphite sensitivity or a previous reaction, rather than applying a blanket rule. Therefore, A is the single best answer.

Reference: NHS, Asthma: “How to treat an asthma attack”, current, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/