An interdisciplinary approach to the management of complex medical and dental conditions

Abstract

Dental and medical practice often requires an interdisciplinary approach integrating the knowledge, skills and experience of all the disciplines of dentistry, medicine and its associated fields into comprehensive treatment to maximize results. Rapid and comprehensive scientific and technological advances have made it difficult for dental and medical practitioners to keep up to date in their fields; thus, to decrease practitioner frustration and increase patient benefits, an interdisciplinary approach has become essential. This report illustrates how therapy was coordinated for a young medically compromised patient with dental phobia and significant dental problems. The latest advances in dental techniques and materials, medical technology and pharmacology are highlighted. The communication and cooperation of team members with each other and with the patient and guardians is illustrated. The astute observation by a medical practitioner in an unrelated discipline led to the improvement in the quality of life for a patient.