What is the connection between heart disease and dental problems?

Question

Do I need to be concerned about my hypertention when having my dental work done?

Answer 1

There are clear connections between heart disease and dental problems. All of the above answers are correct, but here is some practical information that relates to your second question.

If you are having an extraction, be sure to ask if the dentist can check your blood pressure first. If your hypertension is not well-controlled, you may continue to bleed after the tooth is removed due to the excess pressure on the blood system.

If you are taking a calcium channel blocker for your blood pressure, you might experience some gum enlargement. This does not happen to everyone, but if you do notice it, be aware that it may be a side effect of your medicine. You should talk to your medical doctor about a possible alternate choice.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

In July of 1998, the American Academy of Periodontology launched an effort to educate the public about new findings which support what dental professionals had long suspected: Infections in the mouth can play havoc elsewhere in the body.

Since July of 1998, evidence has continued to mount to support these links. While more research needs to be done to say definitively that people with periodontal disease are at higher risk for developing heart disease, stroke, uncontrolled diabetes, preterm births and respiratory disease, periodontists do know that periodontal disease is a bacterial infection, and all infections are cause for concern.

Periodontal bacteria can enter the blood stream and travel to major organs and begin new infections. Research is suggesting that this may:

Contribute to the development of heart disease, the nation's leading cause of death.
Increase the risk of stroke.
Increase a woman's risk of having a preterm, low birth weight baby.
Pose a serious threat to people whose health is compromised by diabetes, respiratory diseases, or osteoporosis.

Answer 5

Dental work can cause showers of bacteria to go through the blood stream - even just cleaning and scaling.

This is not a problem to most of us as we have intact immune systems which will mop up the bacteria and we don't even notice anything about it.

HOWEVER, people with heart valve problems can get a condition known as Endocarditis.

Bacterial Endocarditis occurs when bacteria lodge on and multiply on the heart valves.

This causes a number of problems:
chest pains
fevers
malaise
poor appetite

but then can also create scarring of the valves (vegetations) and shoot off showers of bacteria and clot that can wind up ANYWHERE in the body - in the brain or bones or intestines ... or if it is from the right side of the heart as in IV drug users and right heart endocarditis the emboli wind up in the lungs as a form of pulmonary emboli.

People with artificial valves or damaged valves are advised to have antibiotic coverage when they go to have dental work.

Your high blood pressure is not likely to be an issue. Mention it to the dentist so they are aware.

Answer 6

No you don't have to be concerned although you should let your dentist know you have hypertension. Teeth and gums are directly linked to the heart and patients need to tell their dentist if they have had any heart operations or have any heart defects as they need to be given antibiotics before any dental work is undertaken.

Answer 7

Yes. If you have high blood pressure already then there can be a concern if they do more than a cleaning on you. But if you dont have any problems then dental work wont cause you any problems.

Answer 8

If your going to have work done other than the normal cleaning and cavities filled you should tell your doctor if you have any type of a heart condition.

Answer 9

THE ONLY THING I THINK YOU NEED TO BE CONCERNED WITH IS IF YOU ARE BEING PUT TO SLEEP. THIS IS A CONCERN FOR DOCTORS/DENTIST WHEN YOU ARE GOING UNDER AND HAVE HYPERTENSION. YOUR DENTIST SHOULD ASK YOU THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE HE BEGINS.

Answer 10

if you have an infection of the gums it may travel toward the Heart
usualy a streptaccocal infection
take care and brush them teeth!