Xylazine and fentanyl: Implications for oral health care

Oct. 26, 2023

There’s a dangerous cocktail brewing in the US: a mixture of xylazine and fentanyl. Dentist Pamela Maragliano-Muniz and pharmacist Tom Viola talk about the effects this has on dental treatment.

Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD

Tom Viola, RPh, CCP

The increasing mixing of xylazine, a horse tranquilizer, with fentanyl has created a dangerous drug cocktail designated as an emerging threat in the United States. Xylazine can make fentanyl more dangerous and addictive in several ways. Clinicians in oral-health care, including dentists and dental hygienists, should be aware of the dangers of xylazine and fentanyl combinations and take steps to protect their patients. Learn more in this episode of Medical History Mysteries.

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Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Through the Loupes newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe to Through the Loupes.

About the Author

Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD

Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, is the chief editor of DentistryIQ and editorial co-director of Through the Loupes. Based in Salem, Massachusetts, Dr. Maragliano-Muniz began her clinical career as a dental hygienist. She went on to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she earned her doctorate in dental medicine. She then attended the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dental Medicine, where she became board-certified in prosthodontics. Dr. Maragliano-Muniz owns a private practice, Salem Dental Arts, and lectures on a variety of clinical topics. You may contact her at [email protected].

About the Author

Tom Viola, RPh, CCP

With more than 30 years’ experience as a board-certified pharmacist, clinical educator, professional speaker, and published author, Tom Viola, RPh, CCP, has earned the reputation as the go-to specialist for making pharmacology practical and useful for dental teams. He is the founder of Pharmacology Declassified and is a member of the faculty of more than 10 dental professional degree programs. Viola has contributed to several professional journals and pharmacology textbooks, and currently serves as a consultant to the American Dental Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs.