Dental treatment sometimes calls for a medicine that isn't available as a standard commercial product. That medicine can be of a particular strength, special combination of components or dosage form that can be administered to the patient. In such situations, a dentist or another authorised prescriber prescribes the compounded formulation. Compounded dental medications are prepared by Botanical Compounding Pharmacy, located in West Melbourne, according to the prescription of dentists, oral specialists, and other authorised healthcare practitioners.

Here you can find information about the process of compounding dental medicines, the situations when the prescription of compounded preparations may be issued, and how Botanical Compounding Pharmacy assists doctors and their patients in Melbourne with this issue.

What Is Compounding Dental Preparations?

Compounding of dental preparations means that the medicine is prepared in accordance with the prescription of an authorised prescriber, rather than being dispensed as a ready-made commercially available product. The pharmacist uses pharmaceutical ingredients and compounds them as it is prescribed by the dentist or another authorised prescriber.

The reason to prepare the compounded formula can be the lack of the particular strength of medicine, the need for the formula free of the particular excipient or the need for a dosage form that is more appropriate for use via mouth.

Why Might Compounded Formula Be Used Instead of a Standard Dental Medication?

There are several situations when the dentist can prescribe the preparation to be compounded, including situations where:

• a particular strength of the drug is not manufactured in the ready-to-use preparation;

• a different dosage form is needed, for example, rinse or gel instead of the tablet;

• the prescribing doctor wants to combine several ingredients in one preparation;

• commercially available drug contains flavouring, preservative or other ingredient that patient cannot tolerate;

• there is no commercial producer of the required formula.

Decisions of this kind should be taken by the prescribing doctor based on his/her clinical assessment of the patient's state. It is not the responsibility of Botanical Compounding Pharmacy to decide which medicine or strength is needed by the patient; it is our job to compound the required preparation in accordance with the prescription.

Preparation of Compounded Dental Formulations to Meet Individual Requirements

Dental and oral treatment can involve a variety of situations when the standard product is not sufficient to be used. In this case, a dentist or prescribing doctor can prescribe the compounded formula to treat discomfort after dental treatment, oral mucosa irritation, dry mouth, sensitivity to usual oral care formulas, etc.

The information given above is the general context but not the claim that compounding helps to treat or cure any particular disease. Whether the compounded medicine is appropriate for the treatment, and what should be included in it, is the clinical decision of the dentist or prescriber after his/her examination. Our job is just to prepare the medication according to the prescription, and we do not assess oral health, diagnose, or recommend any treatments.

Specific Strengths and Formulation of Compounded Dental Formulas

Compounded dental preparations can be prescribed with details that are not included in the ready-to-use drug, including particular strength, special combination of ingredients and a particular formula to be applied. If it is clinically appropriate and prescribed by the doctor, we prepare the formula in accordance with the prescription.

This prescription is the guideline for us; we do not make any decisions concerning the preparation independently; our job is to prepare the medicine in accordance with the prescription. We do not propose any strengths, concentrations, dosing or combinations of ingredients; we just prepare what has been prescribed.

Dosage Forms Compounded Dental Preparations

Dosage form can be the critical point for compounding of dental formulas, because the medicine is going to be used via the mouth. Depending on the prescription, compounded dental preparations can be prepared in forms of rinses, oral gels, lozenges or troches and other forms that are appropriate for intra-oral application.

The dosage form is decided by the prescribing doctor when writing the prescription, taking into account how the medicine should be applied and how long it has to stay in the mouth. This is not a decision that can be made by the pharmacy independently, and no particular form is presented here as more effective than another one. If you are the prescriber and you want to know whether we can prepare the particular formulation, our team is always ready to discuss it with you.

Work Together with Your Dentist or Healthcare Practitioner

The process of compounding depends greatly on the communication between the prescriber and the compounding pharmacy; the two parties' responsibilities remain clear throughout the process. A dentist or prescribing practitioner examines the patient, prescribes the treatment and writes the prescription that specifies the medicine, strength, dosage form and particular requirements for the ingredients. Pharmacists are responsible for compounding the prescription accurately.

We work together with dentists, oral practitioners, specialists and other prescribers and are ready to assist in discussing the issues related to compounding of the formula. But this does not include examining the patient or deciding on his/her treatment; these decisions remain to be taken by the prescribing practitioner. A patient who wants to get the compounded dental preparation will need a prescription from an authorised prescriber; if you have any questions concerning an existing prescription or compounding process, we are glad to help you.

FAQs

Q1: What is compounding of dental preparations?

A1: It is the preparation of individually made dental or oral-care medicine according to the prescription, allowing to prepare the particular strength, combination of ingredients or dosage form that is not available as a standard commercial product.

Q2: Why would the dentist prescribe a compounded formulation?

A2: The dentist may prescribe a compounded formulation if the patient needs a strength that is not commercially manufactured, a particular dosage form, a combination of several ingredients in one preparation or a formulation free of a particular ingredient that the patient cannot tolerate; these decisions are made based on the clinical assessment.

Q3: What dosage forms can the compounded dental preparations be prepared in?

A3: Depending on the prescription, these may include rinses, oral gels, lozenges or troches and other forms that are appropriate for application in the mouth. Dosage form is decided by the prescribing doctor.

Q4: Do I need a prescription for a compounded dental medicine?

A4: Yes. Compounded dental medicines are prepared only according to the prescription from an authorised prescriber, such as a dentist or oral health specialist. We prepare the medicine according to the prescription and do not diagnose or recommend any treatments.

Q5: Can more than one prescribed ingredient be combined into a single dental formulation? A5: Yes, in some cases. When a prescriber prescribes to combine several ingredients into one preparation, our compounding pharmacists are able to prepare the formula accordingly, subject to compounding suitability and ingredient compatibility.

Q6: Where can I get dental preparations compounded in Melbourne?

A6: Botanical Compounding Pharmacy is located in West Melbourne and provides compounded dental preparations for practitioners and patients across Melbourne. Prescriptions can be sent to our pharmacy by the prescribing dentist or practitioner, and our team is ready to discuss the details of formulation and preparation directly.

470 Spencer Street West Melbourne VIC 3003