Managing patients with epilepsy in primary care: an update

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition that affects approximately 630,000 people in the UK. It is caused by disordered bursts of electrical activity in the brain, which affect the way it works. It is an often-misunderstood condition, with many dental professionals assuming patients with epilepsy have exclusively tonic-clonic seizures. There are two groups of seizures: generalized and focal, with multiple types within those categories. Every dental practice will have patients with epilepsy, and it is imperative to know how to manage each of the types of seizures if one were to happen in the dental chair. Patients with epilepsy are likely to be on at least one drug that can have oral side effects, which can increase risks of caries and periodontal disease. It is thus important that dental team members are cognizant of the complications associated with these drugs in order to optimise patient care. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Dental professionals should be aware of different types of seizures, know what questions to ask patients with epilepsy and know the relevance to treatment planning.