title: Dental screening of pediatric cardiac surgical patients.
abstract: Dental screenings were completed on 209 pediatric patients six months and older that were scheduled for cardiac surgery from two different geographical locations. The screening involved an educational session on bacterial endocarditis and preventive dentistry followed by a dental examination. We found that sixty-two (30 percent) patients had seen a dentist regularly, ninety-three (44 percent) practiced daily oral hygiene and thirty-seven (18 percent) knew about bacterial endocarditis. Local dentists performed invasive procedures on seventy-one (34 percent) patients and thirty-four (48 percent) received antibiotic prophylaxis. Only twenty-three (68 percent) of the thirty-four patients received the then current American Heart Association antibiotic regimen. Dental disease was diagnosed in 175 (84 percent) of the 209 patients: 164 (78 percent) gingivitis; sixty (29 percent) caries; six (7 percent) dental abscess; three (1 percent) periodontal abscess; five (2 percent) periocornitis. Cardiac surgery was postponed in twenty-four (12 percent) patients. We conclude that parents lacked knowledge about bacterial endocarditis even after being informed during their routine cardiology visit, there appears to be a deficiency of knowledge among dentists regarding the indications and antibiotic regimen required to prevent bacterial endocarditis, and all cardiac surgical patients should have a dental exam and preventive dental program implemented prior to six months of age and dental screening prior to their cardiac surgery.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, College of Dental Medicine, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, and Orthodontics, Division of Pediatric Dentistry, 25 Bee Street, PO Box 250126, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fasules
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000517:prevention & control; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010497:Pericoronitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D010508:Periodontal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis