If you have recently signed up for a new dentist, you may be surprised at the amount of medical history questions they require to be filled out before they will provide treatment.  You may even think some of this information is unnecessary.  However, the more information your doctor has on all of medical history, the better he can treat you and you may even be surprised how much your over all health can be interrelated with your dental health.

Many dental offices have you fill out a medical questionnaire before you are given treatment.  Some of these questionnaires can be very specific and include things that you may think does not relate to your dental health.  This form may include questions about lifestyle (such as smoking or involvement in high-risk sports) and family medical history.  This history, combined with the results of your initial clinical examination, will be the basis for your dentist's approach to your dental health.

You should mention everything about your health, even if you don't think it relates to your mouth.  If you have had surgery or a major illness, be sure to include this information in the medical history of your patient information section.  Many diseases can have significant effects on your mouth and teeth, and researchers continue to discover ways in which oral health is related to overall health.  Diabetes, for instance, can increase the risk of periodontal disease.

You should have your current medication information on the forms that you fill out.  This information can be vital for you health.  These medications can have a small impact or even a very large impact in the decisions that you dentist makes for your.  For instance, some medications cause dry mouth, which can increase the risk of cavities.  Other health conditions may require us to change the type of anesthesia given.  If you are in an accident and need emergency dental care this information could be vital so you will want to keep the information up to date.

You will want to keep these records up to date.  If you have a change in your medical condition it is important to update these records even if the dentist doesn't ask.  You may become pregnant or develop allergies.  This could easily cause your dentist to need to change some of his decisions.  For instance, pregnant ladies should avoid unnecessary x-rays.  This and other procedures should be avoided while pregnant and may cause your dentist to want to delay or change some of the work he was to perform.

Your dentist cannot release this medical information without your consent.  By law this information is private.

You may also wonder why the questionnaire has grown so large.  You don't remember having such a large form last time you signed up for a dentist 15 years ago.  The reason the list has grown so large is because medicine continues to advance and many new procedures are created almost daily.  Some of the effects on your dental health may not even be known yet.  Hence, it is best to have all of the information possible as your dentist makes decisions for your oral health.

Suggested items to include on your patient registration form:
    Any recent heart surgery (within the last six months)
    Artificial heart valve(s)
    Asthma
    Congenital Heart defect
    Epilepsy/seizures
    History of rheumatic fever
    History of heart murmer/mitral valve prolapse
    Knee, joint or hip replacement surgery
    Latex allergy
    Medications: Prescribed or over-the-counter
    Pacemaker
    Previous bacterial endocarditis
    Systemic pulmonary shunt
    If you smoke (smoking can lead to serious problems like oral cancer)
    About any allergies you have (including latex allergy
    If you are pregnant
    Any health problem or medical condition you are being treated for

In summary, your dentist needs all of the information possible when making a decision about your oral health.  Some information may not seem pertinent to you, but many health situations can affect your dental health.  Thus, you should be honest and disclose the necessary information so that you dentist can make the best decision for you.