Dental extractions and cardiovascular health: exploring the connections
I spoke with Dr. Richard Nagelberg, who has practiced general dentistry in suburban Philadelphia for more than 30 years. He is a speaker, advisory board member, consultant, and key opinion leader for several dental companies and organizations, and he lectures on a variety of topics centered on understanding the impact dental professionals have beyond the oral cavity. Dr. Nagelberg is a monthly columnist for Dental Economics and a contributor to DentistryIQ.com.
I wanted to get his thoughts on the study, and here’s what he had to say …
“This study has some startling findings, but perhaps the biggest takeaway is found near the end. Dr. Ann Bolger, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association stated: ‘This is an interesting study that identifies a gap in our understanding of the risks of this practice. But it does not prove that doing the opposite would improve outcomes.’ Dr. Bolger further indicated that additional studies are needed to clarify these findings. (3)
"If a patient presents for dental clearance prior to cardiac surgery, any treatment recommendations involving invasive procedures, including tooth extraction, should be made with the patient’s attending physician. Communication between the dentist and the patient’s physicians should be in writing, especially those involving any and all recommendations to defer or proceed with any invasive dental procedures.”
Additional reading …
The most important perio-systemic facts
Enough talk about the oral-systemic link: It's time to bridge the gap between dentistry and medicine
Connecting the oral and systemic gap: what's it going to take?
More resources ...
American Health Association
References...
1. Smith MM, Barbara DW, Mauermann WJ, Viozzi CF, Dearani JA, Grim KJ. Morbidity and mortality associated with dental extraction before cardiac operation. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 2014; 97(3):838-844. DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2013.10.034.
2. Tooth extraction prior to cardiac surgery may increase risk of adverse outcomes. Society of Thoracic Surgeons. ScienceDaily. Feb. 27, 2014.
3. Dotinga R. Getting teeth pulled before heart surgery may pose serious risks. 2014. HealthDay.
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