FDA Alert from the American Dental Association

FDA warns against using benzocaine products in children under 2

When a baby is teething, mom and dad want to help stop the pain. For this reason, gel and spray products are available that contain benzocaine, a topical anesthetic. However, the Food and Drug Administration has warned that these products should not be used for children under 2, except under the advice and supervision of a health care professional. The reason? Benzocaine has been associated with a rare but serious, and sometimes fatal, condition called methemoglobinemia.

What is methemoglobinemia? In simple terms, it’s a disorder in which the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry is greatly reduced. Although it can occur in older children and adults, children under 2 appear to be particularly at risk. That’s because since 2006, the FDA has received 29 reports of benzocaine gel-related cases of methemoglobinemia, and 15 of these have been in children under 2.

According to the FDA’s consumer update, here are some of the symptoms of methemoglobinemia:

• pale, gray, or blue colored skin, lips and nails
• shortness of breath
• fatigue
• confusion
• headache
• light-headedness
• rapid heart rate

The ADA’s Seal of Acceptance Program currently has two topical benzocaine-containing pain relief products that bear the ADA Seal, neither intended for children under 2. These products are Benzodent Dental Pain Relieving Cream by Chattem, and Professional Strength Kanka Mouth Pain Liquid by Blistex. Both products contain 20 percent benzocaine and contain the following label statements:

• For the temporary relief of pain due to minor irritations of the mouth and gums caused by dentures or orthodontic appliances or minor injury to mouth and gums. Kanka also says that it can be used to help relieve pain from canker sores.
• Children under 2 years of age: consult a dentist or physician.
• Children under 12 years of age should be supervised in the use of this product.
• Keep out of reach of children.

For more information on these and other oral care products that carry the ADA Seal, visit the ADA Seal page on MouthHealthy. Products that bear the ADA Seal have undergone a rigorous, independent, scientific review to ensure that they meet ADA criteria for safety and effectiveness.

Information provided is from mouthhealthy.org - a site developed by the American Dental Association.

Dental Emergencies

Accidents happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. There are many common dental emergencies and learning how to deal with them is important. For all dental emergencies, it’s important to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Most dentists, like Drs Bailey & Bacon at South Coast Family Dentistry, reserve time in their daily schedules for emergency patients so be sure to call your dentist and provide as much detail as you can about your condition. If the accident occurs when your dental office is not open, visit your local emergency room, but be sure to keep excellent notes so that the dentist the ER refers you to can appropriately bill your insurance.

At South Coast Family Dentistry, serving patients in Coos Bay and North Bend, OR, we always reserve time for emergency patients and welcome your call. Remember that the best prevention against a dental emergency is having a regular dental home that you seek preventive care with. A little bit of prevention can go a long way! Contact us today to learn more about the services our dentists provide to the Coos Bay and North Bend, OR community.

To learn more about what to do in case of an emergency, visit mouthhealthy.org.

Dangers of X-Ray Radiation?

A study published in Cancer, the peer-viewed journal of the American Cancer Society, found that people diagnosed with meningioma, a generally non-cancerous tumor, are more likely to report that they’ve received certain types of dental X-rays in the past.

There are several important things to understand about this study:

• This finding doesn’t mean that dental X-rays cause these tumors; much more research is needed.
• The results rely on the individuals’ memories of having dental X-rays taken years earlier. The ability to recall information is often imperfect. Therefore, the results of studies that use this design can be unreliable because they are affected by what scientists call “recall bias.”
• The study acknowledges that some of the subjects received dental X-rays decades ago when radiation exposure was greater. Radiation doses were higher in the past due to the use of old X-ray technology and slower speed film.

The American Dental Association's long-standing position is that dentists should order dental X-rays for patients only when necessary for diagnosis and treatment. Since 1989, the ADA has published recommendations to help dentists ensure that radiation exposure is as low as reasonably achievable. As precautions against radiation, ADA encourages the use of abdominal shielding (e.g., protective aprons) and thyroid collars on all patients. In addition, the ADA recommends that dentists use E or F speed film, the two fastest film speeds available, or a digital X -ray.

Dental X-rays are a valuable part of detecting oral health problems at an early stage. Many oral diseases can’t be detected with a physical examination alone. Dental X-rays help provide information about a patient’s oral health such as early-stage cavities, gum diseases, infections and some types of tumors. How often dental X-rays should be taken depends on the patient’s oral health condition, age, risk for disease and any signs and symptoms of oral disease that the patient might be experiencing. If you have concerns the ADA encourages you to talk to your dentist, but eliminating X-rays altogether could be detrimental to your oral health.

At South Coast Family Dentistry, serving patients in Coos Bay, OR and North Bend, OR, your family's safety and health is our greatest concern. Our doctors follow the standards for dental x-rays as prescribed by the ADA and state organizations for frequency and use. Better yet, our doctors use digital x-rays, which in some cases have a lower occurrence of radiation than standing in front of a microwave provides. If you have concerns about x-rays, please contact our office. Remember, improving your health is our primary goal!

Information in this blog article provided by mouthhealthy.org, a site developed and maintained by the American Dental Association. Visit mouthhealthy.org for more great patient tips and information.