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Patients should
share their medical histories with their dentists.
Following are four common medical conditions that have
direct effects on oral health. Withholding information
about these conditions from your dentist could aggravate
and complicate certain oral health conditions and
treatments.
DIABETES
Diabetics have
special oral healthcare needs. Common oral health
problems associated with diabetes include tooth decay,
gum disease, salivary gland dysfunction, taste
impairment, fungal infections and dry mouth. Dry mouth
can cause soreness, ulcers, infections and
cavities. Dentists must also know about the patient's
medications and blood sugar level. This is required for
dentists to make informed decisions about the diabetic
patient's oral health.
HEART
DISEASE
Bacteria from
the mouth can possibly enter the bloodstream and travel
to the heart during dental treatment, according to the
American Dental Association. This presents a risk for
some patients who have cardiac abnormalities or other
heart conditions because the bacteria may cause
endocarditis, a serious inflammation of the heart valves
or tissues. Columbia University Medical Center
researchers found a connection between gum disease and
atherosclerosis - a narrowing of blood vessels that can
lead to stroke or heart attack.
The American Heart Association and the American Dental
Association publish guidelines to help dentists protect
patients at risk of developing bacterial endocarditis.
Based on the patient's medical condition, certain
antibiotics may be used before some dental treatments
such as professional tooth cleaning, extractions,
incision and drainage of infected oral tissue, some
types of injections and some oral surgeries.
Dental patients
should notify their dentists of the following
conditions: Heart surgery within the past six months;
pacemaker; vascular surgery within the past six months;
artificial heart valve; history of rheumatic fever;
history of heart murmur; previous bacterial
endocarditis; systemic pulmonary shunt; congenital heart
defect; and acquired valve dysfunction.
OSTEOPOROSIS
A number of
studies have suggested a link between osteoporosis and
tooth or bone loss in the jaw. According to the American
Dental Association, studies support the suggestion that
low bone-density can lead to tooth loss.
The jawbone can
lose its shape when a person begins losing teeth. This
can lead to difficulties with implants and dentures. The
American Academy of General Dentistry warns that
ill-fitting dentures can lead to mouth sores and a loss
of oral function (such as the ability to speak and eat).
PREGNANCY
A mother's
dental health can have a direct effect on her baby.
Studies show that at least 30% of women will experience
increased sensitivity to plaque and tender, puffy and
sometimes bleeding gums during pregnancy. These symptoms
normally appear in the second month of pregnancy and
escalate through the eighth month. Because there is
usually no discomfort associated with these symptoms,
women may dismiss them. However, these infections can
lead to gingivitis, an early form of periodontal (gum)
disease.
Growing
evidence suggests a link between gum disease and
premature, underweight births. According to the American
Academy of Periodontology, gum infections cause an
increase in the levels of certain hormones that can
induce labor. Equipped with knowledge of a patient's
pregnancy, a dentist can determine the best course of
treatment. |
