Dental procedures and endocarditis prophylaxis in patients with prosthetic heart valves: results of a questionnaire to 220 patients.
220 patients with prosthetic heart valves were surveyed regarding dental status, dental health, patient-dentist relationship, information on dental procedures and antimicrobial prophylaxis at the last visit to the dentist. The vast majority of these patients were on life-long anticoagulant treatment because of mechanical heart valve prostheses. Half of the patients had a regular dentist and customarily visited a dentist one or more times a year. One third of the patients were edentulous and 26.5% of the patients indicated dental disease, including chronic periodontitis. Only 30.4% of the patients received antimicrobial prophylaxis in connection with dental extraction and only 13.8% in connection with scaling. Maintenance of good oral health, routine dental checks and better information to the patients and the dentist are called for.
Gutschik
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Department of Clinical Microbiology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Lippert
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003729:Dental Care; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000473:pathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000473:pathology