Medical Conditions That Affect Dental Treatment
When you come to our office part of the registration procedure is a medical history questionnaire. We have sometimes been asked why it is necessary for us take a medical history when we might be doing a 'simple' filling. We have therefore included a brief explanation of some more significant medical conditions and how have an impact on dental treatment.
Cardiac (Heart) Conditions
Patients with Cardiac Insufficiency
Patients with a history of Heart Attack and/or high blood pressure should avoid local anaesthetics injections containing adrenaline. For such patients we need to use local anaesthetic preparations without adrenaline.
Artifical Heart Valves have significant risk of bacteria lodging on them and forming "vegetations" which can cause lift threatening infective complications. We generally need to prescribe Antibiotics to cover such patients during any dental procedure that might cause bleeding.
Diabetes
Non-insulin dependent diabetes (conditions managed by diet or medication taken by mouth) do not significantly affect dental treatment.
Insulin dependent diabetes which is well controlled also does not significantly affect treatment procedures. However it is best to time dental treatment (especially surgery) just after insulin AND taking food to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Diabetes does however affect how your body responds to treatment. There is greater likelihood of post surgical infections and poorer wound healing is common in diabetics especially if diabetes is poorly controlled. Diabetics tend to have higher incidence of periodontal disease with greater severity and more rapid progression of the disease process.
Blood Conditions
Bleeding disorders are especially significant during surgical procedures or dental extractions. However they can also become an issue during deep gum cleaning (root planing) which causes some bleeding. Generally though fillings and other treatments to the teeth themselves do not cause issues.
Medication
Warfarin and anti-coagulant medication cause the same problems as bleeding disorders. Procedures like extractions and surgery need to be approached with great caution. However treatment of teeth (like fillings and root canal treatment) and routine scaling and oral hygiene procedures do not pose problems.
Tobacco Usage
Tobacco usage increases the risk of oral cancer (as well as other cancers). In addition smokers generally have poorer healing after surgical procedures and are more prone to gum disease. Our experience is that smokers tend to experience less tooth decay but the damage to the gums overshadows this seeming advantage. Smokers also experience considerable more staining of the teeth than non-smokers.
Alcohol Consumption patterns
Excessive alcohol use predisposes to accidental trauma. In addition high alcohol intake can increase the risk of mouth cancer. Also we find that a proportion of heavy drinkers tend to be more resistant to the effects of local anesthetic or the effect wears off more quickly.
Cancer
Mouth cancers of course are well within our area of concern. However cancer in other areas of the body and cancer treatment tends to cause side effects in the mouth also. In particular, dryness of the mouth and lack of saliva can lead to inflammation of the mucous membranes and increased dental caries (tooth decay). Healing is generally also impaired.
Kidney Failure
Liver Disorders
Arthritis
Lung / Breathing Disorders
Asthma
Seizures/Epilepsy
Thyroid Disorders
Infectious diseases
Cardiac (Heart) Conditions
Patients with Cardiac Insufficiency
Patients with a history of Heart Attack and/or high blood pressure should avoid local anaesthetics injections containing adrenaline. For such patients we need to use local anaesthetic preparations without adrenaline.
Artifical Heart Valves have significant risk of bacteria lodging on them and forming "vegetations" which can cause lift threatening infective complications. We generally need to prescribe Antibiotics to cover such patients during any dental procedure that might cause bleeding.
Diabetes
Non-insulin dependent diabetes (conditions managed by diet or medication taken by mouth) do not significantly affect dental treatment.
Insulin dependent diabetes which is well controlled also does not significantly affect treatment procedures. However it is best to time dental treatment (especially surgery) just after insulin AND taking food to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Diabetes does however affect how your body responds to treatment. There is greater likelihood of post surgical infections and poorer wound healing is common in diabetics especially if diabetes is poorly controlled. Diabetics tend to have higher incidence of periodontal disease with greater severity and more rapid progression of the disease process.
Blood Conditions
Bleeding disorders are especially significant during surgical procedures or dental extractions. However they can also become an issue during deep gum cleaning (root planing) which causes some bleeding. Generally though fillings and other treatments to the teeth themselves do not cause issues.
Medication
Warfarin and anti-coagulant medication cause the same problems as bleeding disorders. Procedures like extractions and surgery need to be approached with great caution. However treatment of teeth (like fillings and root canal treatment) and routine scaling and oral hygiene procedures do not pose problems.
Tobacco Usage
Tobacco usage increases the risk of oral cancer (as well as other cancers). In addition smokers generally have poorer healing after surgical procedures and are more prone to gum disease. Our experience is that smokers tend to experience less tooth decay but the damage to the gums overshadows this seeming advantage. Smokers also experience considerable more staining of the teeth than non-smokers.
Alcohol Consumption patterns
Excessive alcohol use predisposes to accidental trauma. In addition high alcohol intake can increase the risk of mouth cancer. Also we find that a proportion of heavy drinkers tend to be more resistant to the effects of local anesthetic or the effect wears off more quickly.
Cancer
Mouth cancers of course are well within our area of concern. However cancer in other areas of the body and cancer treatment tends to cause side effects in the mouth also. In particular, dryness of the mouth and lack of saliva can lead to inflammation of the mucous membranes and increased dental caries (tooth decay). Healing is generally also impaired.
Kidney Failure
Liver Disorders
Arthritis
Lung / Breathing Disorders
Asthma
Seizures/Epilepsy
Thyroid Disorders
Infectious diseases