Corticosteroids (Dental)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor or dentist will make. For dental corticosteroids, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor or dentist if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to corticosteroids. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - When used properly, these medicines have not been shown to cause problems in humans. Studies on birth defects with dental corticosteroids have not been done in humans. However, studies in animals have shown that topical corticosteroids, such as the hydrocortisone or triamcinolone in this medicine, when applied to the skin in large amounts or used for a long time, could cause birth defects. Studies with dental paste have not been done in animals.

Breast-feeding - When used properly, dental corticosteroids have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children - Children and teenagers who must use this medicine should be checked often by their doctor. Dental corticosteroids may be absorbed through the lining of the mouth and, if used too often or for too long a time, may interfere with growth in children. Before using this medicine in children, you should discuss its use with your child's medical doctor or dentist.

Older adults - Although there is no specific information comparing use of dental corticosteroids in the elderly with use in other age groups, these medicines are not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than they do in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in many cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor or dentist may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking or using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of dental corticosteroids. Make sure you tell your doctor or dentist if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) - Too much use of corticosteroids may cause a loss of control of diabetes by increasing blood and urine glucose. However, this is not likely to happen when dental corticosteroids are used for a short period of time

• Herpes sores or
• Infection or sores of the mouth or throat or
• Tuberculosis - Corticosteroids may make existing infections worse or cause new infections