Dantécédents

Dantécédents is a term used in some French-language contexts to refer to the dental component of a patient’s history, i.e., the collection of information about past and present dental health and treatments. It functions as a specialized subset of the broader concept of medical history, focusing specifically on teeth, gums, jaws, and related structures. The term is not universally standardized and may appear mainly in clinical notes, research, or discussions that aim to distinguish dental history from systemic medical history.

Etymology and usage: the word combines the root dent- (tooth) with antécédents (past events or history). It is sometimes proposed as a concise label for dental antecedents but is not widely entrenched in all medical or dental records. In practice, many clinicians simply refer to “antécédents dentaires” or to the dental history within the overall patient record. The lack of formal standardization means its use can vary by institution, country, or language.

Contents: dantécédents typically encompasses information such as prior caries and restorations, missing or extracted teeth, periodontal history, endodontic or orthodontic treatments, implants, dental traumas, bruxism or parafunctional habits, allergies (e.g., to anesthetics or latex), and medications relevant to dental care. Radiographic history and exposure to fluoride or sealants may also be included.

Significance and management: documenting dantécédents supports treatment planning, complication risk assessment, anesthesia decisions, and prognosis. Data are recorded in dental records and may be integrated with general medical history. Privacy considerations and standardized coding (for procedures and diagnoses) aid interoperability across systems.

See also: dental history, medical history, dental records, SNODENT and CDT coding systems.