Ozempic and dentistry: Implications for as we speak’s clinicians

Roughly 70% of adults within the US wrestle with weight problems or are obese,¹ which has prompted a surge in prescriptions for weight-loss medicine. Initially developed for the remedy of sort 2 diabetes, semaglutide—recognized underneath the model names Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy—has exploded in reputation over the previous few years for its twin position in focusing on weight problems and elevated blood sugar. In late 2023, the FDA added one other instrument to the weight-loss arsenal once they permitted tirzepatide—recognized underneath the model names Mounjaro and Zepbound—for persistent weight administration.¹

Over the past three months of 2022, health-care suppliers wrote greater than 9 million prescriptions for weight-loss medicine.² The variety of prescriptions for semaglutide rose 150% over the previous 12 months, marking an 80% enhance in written prescriptions per health-care supplier.³ Since insurance coverage protection for weight-loss medicine isn’t a given,⁴ many individuals are paying for these medicine out-of-pocket.

Weight-loss medicine can have dental implications and level to systemic well being points. In case your sufferers are taking any of those medicines, you could want to regulate dosages of native anesthetics and analgesics or make different concerns relating to your dental remedy.⁵

DentistryIQ and its sister publication, Perio-Implant Advisory, have printed a number of articles on Ozempic and different weight-loss medicine in current months. Right here’s what dental clinicians have to know.

What’s Ozempic and the way does it work?

Has Ozempic develop into the most well-liked drug in dentistry? Study extra about Ozempic’s mechanism of motion, why it have to be administered subcutaneously, and why diabetics are having such a tough time getting the drug crammed.

Dental concerns for individuals taking Ozempic

Does Ozempic have an effect on dental care? Sure, and it has some shocking implications in dentistry.

How are all of the weight-loss medicine totally different?

Each semaglutide and tirzepatide began out as medicines to deal with sort 2 diabetes, however there are notable variations. Study extra about Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound.

Ozempic and halitosis

One lesser-known aspect impact of Ozempic is halitosis. Unhealthy breath impacts roughly 35% of individuals worldwide and 80 million individuals within the US.⁶ How does Ozempic contribute to unhealthy breath?

Ozempic and sedation dentistry

Stories of meals regurgitation and aspiration throughout procedures involving normal and deep sedation prompted the American Society of Anesthesiologists to launch new steering⁷ that recommends withholding medicine like Ozempic forward of elective procedures or surgical procedures.

References

1. FDA approves new treatment for persistent weight administration. US Meals and Drug Administration. November 8, 2023. Accessed February 15, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-medication-chronic-weight-management
2. Constantino AK. Ozempic, Wegovy drug prescriptions hit 9 million, surge 300% in underneath three years. CNBC. September 27, 2023. Accessed February 15, 2024. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/27/ozempic-wegovy-drug-prescriptions-hit-9-million.html
3. Tucker ME. Semaglutide prescribing surged previously 12 months. Medscape. November 1, 2023. Accessed February 15, 2024. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/997956
4. Does insurance coverage cowl weight reduction treatment? Weight problems Medication Affiliation. December 18, 2023. Accessed February 15, 2024. https://obesitymedicine.org/weblog/does-insurance-cover-weight-loss-medication/
5. Maragliano-Muniz P, Viola T. Dental concerns for individuals taking Ozempic. DentistryIQ. September 21, 2023. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://www.dentistryiq.com/dentistry/pharmacology/video/14299247/dental-considerations-for-people-taking-ozempic 
6. Unhealthy breath statistics. Unhealthy Breath Institute. Accessed February 15, 2024. https://xbadbreath.com/bad-breath-info/statistics/
7. Joshi GP, Abdelmalak BB, Weigel WA, et al. American Society of Anesthesiologists consensus-based steering on preoperative administration of sufferers (adults and youngsters) on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. American Society of Anesthesiologists. June 29, 2023. Accessed February 15, 2024. https://www.asahq.org/about-asa/newsroom/news-releases/2023/06/american-society-of-anesthesiologists-consensus-based-guidance-on-preoperative