An extrapyramidal reaction presenting as an acute temporomandibular episode: a case report.

This case report describes an adverse reaction (phenothiazine reaction) to prochlorperazine (Compazine), a commonly prescribed drug. The patient had been referred to a dental clinic for an oral evaluation because of muscle spasms in the oral musculature. He had severe muscle spasms, a reduced range of motion, difficulty registering a repeatable maximum intercuspation, facial grimacing, and difficulty speaking because of the spasms. The dental examination revealed no history of trauma to the musculature or the temporomandibular joints and no previous history of seizures. The patient was a young, healthy man who had recently been hospitalized for an upper respiratory infection and sinusitis. The drug regimen used to treat the sinusitis and respiratory infection caused some nausea and vomiting, and the patient received a prescription for prochlorperazine to control the symptoms. When questioned in the dental clinic about his medical and drug use history, he reported taking only amoxicillin for the infections. His symptoms worsened, necessitating a referral to a co-located emergency department. When he was asked specifically if he was taking Compazine, the patient reported that he had taken it earlier in the day. A tentative diagnosis of a phenothiazine reaction was made, and 50 mg of diphenhydramine was administered intramuscularly. The patient showed a marked alleviation of symptoms. Although the patient's reaction to the prochlorperazine is common, many dental care providers may never treat a patient with such symptoms. The phenothiazines are a common class of drugs, and some, such as prochlorperazine, are often prescribed by dentists. This case highlights the importance of taking an accurate history and being aware of possible adverse effects of medications.

First-term dental readiness.

Army recruits have high levels of dental disease, and traditionally the dental needs of soldiers have not been addressed until the soldiers arrive at their first permanent duty station. Today's expeditionary Army requires that soldiers be fully deployable. This article addresses an initiative (called First-Term Dental Readiness) aimed at providing dental care in the initial training of a soldier's career, implementation of pilot programs at Fort Sill and Fort Knox, and the lessons learned from those pilot programs.

Military and VA general dentistry training: a national resource.

In 1999, HRSA contracted with the UCLA School of Dentistry to evaluate the postgraduate general dentistry (PDG) training programs. The purpose of this article is to compare the program characteristics of the PGD training programs sponsored by the Armed Services (military) and VA. Surveys mailed to sixty-six VA and forty-two military program directors in fall 2000 sought information regarding the infrastructure of the program, the program emphasis, resident preparation prior to entering the program, and a description of patients served and types of services provided. Of the eighty-one returned surveys (75 percent response rate), thirty were received from military program directors and fifty-one were received from VA program directors. AEGDs reported treating a higher proportion of children patients and GPRs more medically intensive, disadvantaged and HIV/AIDS patients. Over half of the directors reported increases in curriculum emphasis in implantology. The program directors reported a high level of inadequate preparation among incoming dental residents. Having a higher ratio of residents to total number of faculty predicted inadequate preparation (p=.022) although the model was weak. Although HRSA doesn't financially support federally sponsored programs, their goal of improved dental training to care for medically compromised individuals is facilitated through these programs, thus making military and VA general dentistry programs a national resource.