Prednisone and Dental Procedures

Why is it advised to notify one’s dentist of daily prednisone use of 20 mgs or more for at least two weeks? Any dental procedure that increases the level of physical or emotional stress can challenge the adrenal gland to produce more cortisol in order to combat that stress. Steroids suppress the body’s ability to produce cortisol thus increasing the risk of serious health consequences. The body needs cortisol to counteract increased stress. If the body can’t produce the needed cortisol the patient is in danger of a rare but sometimes fatal condition called acute adrenal insufficiency.