Dental Health pre Op

[Dickydon]

Can someone explain the importance of dental health and what is poor dental health or what would raise flags about your dental health?

I’m assuming it’s the electrical connection with our nerves in the teeth etc etc...

I see it’s in my notes from the cardiologist, re me having Aortic & Mitral valve replacement when they decide to do it.

Thanks

[NorthantsSteve]

Hi Dickydon. The link is to do with cross infection. If you have gum disease the bacteria in your blood stream can affect your heart valves. They also won’t operate if you have loose teeth. Poor dental health is linked to heart conditions but I think they’ve stopped short of saying that it causes heart problems. Dental problems are things like loose teeth, bleeding gums, sensitivity to hot/cold etc.

[Dickydon in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Thanks NorthantsSteve, my oral health is not great I must admit. bit of fillings missing bit no pain etc... I got four crowns, two front upper on a plate. One of the common problems with long term type 1 diabetes is your teeth, you start losing bits of them overtime, if your control has not been great over the years, and I admit, mine hasn’t. Looks like I better visit the dentist to have a pre heart op check up!

[NorthantsSteve in reply to Dickydon]

Sounds like a plan 😁

[Red_Baron in reply to Dickydon]

Hi,

I had to have a full check up at the dentist and have anything they identified remedied before they’d operate. When the dental treatment was complete (I needed a filling plus scale and polish) the dentist had to sign a form to say I was good to go. They had me using mouthwash twice a day as well as regular brushing...

Good luck

[Dickydon in reply to Red_Baron]

Thanks Red_Baron, sounds like it was job done and the next.

👍🏻

[Pinkrobin]

Be prepared for the unexpected. I thought my teeth were ok, no fillings, however the dentist decided I needed some root canal work before I was ready to go, ouch on 2 accounts!

[Dickydon in reply to Pinkrobin]

I sometimes wonder about these dentists, as their NHS work doesn’t pay them as well as what they get from private patients and probably say you need this and that, when really, you don’t need it.

My dentist lives in an enormous house at least 2m on the market, must be the upkeep that cost a lot and needs lots of private patients!

[080311]

Hi, only just seen your post I had AVR and bypass done and pre op had to have full dental check up. Plus what they called a deep clean by a dental hygienist not too pleasant! Told the reason being you have more germs in your mouth than the rest of your body put together! and they worry about cross infection and it travelling to your new valve.

Maybe by now you have had your pre op tests done, I wish you all the best .

[Dickydon in reply to 080311]

thanks, haven’t had it done yet, it’ll be more like april/may time. but i’ll def need dental work done as i currently got two holes in two upper teeth at the back with a couple of mouth ulcers. not comfortable at the mo. sort out next week.