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Cardiac Dental Care
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Cardiac dental check up---To safeguard your health, it's important to let
us know if you have a heart condition or have recently had heart surgery before
you have any dental treatments. We provide complete guidance for treatment and preventive
measures of your oral care.
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Premedication — taking antibiotics before the treatment — may be necessary for dental
procedures such as professional tooth cleaning; extractions; incision and drainage
of infected oral tissue; some types of injections; and some oral surgeries.
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Did you know that the connection between gum disease and heart attacks is higher
than the connection between high cholesterol and heart attacks?
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Periodontal or gum tissue care interacts with three areas relating to cardiovascular
disease: effects of medications, infective endocarditis, and the potential for periodontal
disease to contribute to heart disease.
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What Should I be Concerned About? |
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Researchers are finding possible links between periodontal infections and other
diseases throughout the body. Current studies suggest that there may be a link between
periodontal (gum) disease, heart disease and other health conditions. In fact, research
suggests that gum disease may be a more serious risk factor for heart disease than
hypertension, smoking, cholesterol, gender and ages. |
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New studies suggest that people who have gum disease seem to be at a higher risk
for heart attacks, although no one is certain how this relationship works. Your
oral health affects your overall health, but the studies that will find exactly
why these problems are linked are still underway. |
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Flossing matters!: People who have both gum disease and a high body mass index,
were more likely to have increased C-reactive protein-a serum in blood that is a
marker for heart disease. |
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Oral Health & Heart |
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Don’t Let a Dirty Mouth Pollute Your Clean Heart taking care of your oral health
will give you a winning smile and may also be heart healthy.
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Do you find this far-fetched to believe? It’s true...A dirty mouth is like a factory
dumping into a river.
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Using this analogy, the bacteria from your mouth is the sewage that can seep into
your bloodstream, or in this case the river causing it to become polluted. Your
bloodstreamcarries bacteria from the mouth and may cause the arteries of the heart
to become polluted with periodontal bacteria. This can bring about inflammation
of the arteries and possibly increase your risk of having a heart attack. Periodontal
researchers are racing to find out more about exactly how periodontal disease may
affect heart disease. .
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Levels of Oral Bacteria May Increase Risk for Heart Attacks
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studies in the May 2005 issue furthered researchers’ understanding about the potential
link between the periodontal bacteria found in the mouth and heart disease.In one
study, researchers found that the total number of periodontal bacteria was higher
in individuals that suffered from a heart attack. In the second study, DNA of periodontal
bacteria from the mouth was found in the plaque of the heart’s arteries. Researchers
believe these findings may help confirm what they have long known - if there is
a sterile pathway, such as a bloodstream near an infected area, the bacteria can
travel to other parts of the body and cause harm. Although more research needs tobe
done, periodontists are advising people to maintain good oral health.
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Deep Periodontal Pockets Increase Risk for Electrocardiographic Abnormalities
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In another study suggesting a relationship between periodontitis and cardiovascular
disease, researchers found that people with deep periodontal pockets had an increased
risk for Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities. People with severe attachment
loss also had a significant risk for ECG abnormalities.
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Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory bacterial infection. Past studies reported
that when periodontitis is present, it elevates levels of other inflammatory substances
such as C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 and neutrophils. This suggests that
when these inflammatory substances are elevated, the risk of a cardiac event is
also elevated. Additional studies are required in order to examine the degree of
cardiovascular risk from periodontitis compared with other risk factors. Because
problematic ECG results are a widely appreciated risk factor for cardiovascular
disease, it could be valuable to know if periodontal treatment could improve ECG
exams. ECG exams cause no discomfort and take only a few minutes, so it's a common
screening for heart disease. ECG abnormalities are a sensitive predictors of fatal
coronary heart disease.
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Medication That Makes Your Heart Happy
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Could Make Your Smile Sad If you have been diagnosed with heart disease or high
blood pressure,your physician may have prescribed a number of different medications,some
of which may affect your periodontal health or put you at risk for periodontal disease.
Some commonly prescribed medications can cause dry mouth, increased plaque or enlarged
gum tissue. These conditions frequently promote bacterial infections under the gum
line, causing bleeding gums and bad breath. Please discuss any medications you are
taking with your periodontist to find out what effects, if any, they are having
on your periodontal health. Your periodontist will work with you and your physician
to minimize negative effects. Oftentimes just good oral hygiene and more frequent
dental care is all you need to keep you smiling!♥
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What Should I Do?
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Keep your mouth healthy! See your dentist at least twice a year for periodic maintenance.
Gum disease is a serious gum infection that should always be taken seriously.
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Although gum disease can often show few or no symptoms at all, watch for gums that
are red and irritated, or gums that bleed easily. There are many new treatments
available to control and help reverse gum disease.
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Always remember that gum disease is caused by plaque buildup. Brush and floss regularly
to remove plaque that you can’t see below the gum line and remember to schedule
regular check-ups. If you remove the plaque, you minimize the chance for getting
gum disease..
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When to Have Dental Treatment After a Heart Attack
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The percentage of reinfarction is unusually high for the first 6 months after an
MI. During this time avoid anything but absolutely necessary emergency dental treatment
and with close consultation with the cardiologist. While the six month rule is a
good starting point checking with the cardiologist is a good rule to follow. If
treatment is really absolutely needed before the 6 month time period, hospital dentistry
then becomes the location to have the emergency procedures done.
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