My gums have been hurting and swollen lately, so I went to see a dentist, who told me that I have the big pockets (more 5mm) and I need to get a deep cleaning and more. However, I recently was told by my physician that I might have a minor heart murmur. So my dentist won't see me until I get a release from my physician/cordiologist. The problem is that my first appointment with a cardiologist is only next month and I am not sure how long it will take to get results about my heart murmur.
Should I try to get a form signed by my physician instead? She doesn't know much about my heart since it was discovered lately. Am I putting my heart in danger of getting some bacteria if I get this form signed without serious check-up and diagnoses of my heart? Or will this waiting for seeing a cardiologist first hurt my teeth? I don't want to increase my heart condition by using antibiotics at the dentist office but neither I want to lose my teeth by not treating them! Please help!!!!
2007-09-14 07:45:04 · 7 answers · asked by terliuke 5 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
The reason that they want you to be released by a physician is because the 'deep cleaning' can potentially release bacteria into the blood stream and cause an infection on the heart valve(s) and lead to irreversible valve damage and the need to surgically replace it in the future or death.
In young women, it is not uncommon to have mitral valve prolapse. This can be verified by Echo which can be ordered by any physician but it is a cardiologist who is trained to interpret the image.
The dentist is covering his/her butt if there should be a problem in the future.
Ask the dentist while you're waiting if there is anything like a mouth rinse you can use while you're waiting,in combination with daily flossing.
I was able to decrease my pockets from 4/5 to 3s with just flossing a mouth rinses.
2007-09-14 08:08:36 · answer #1 · answered by J 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your dentist is overreacting. All you need is a prophilactic course of ABx prior to and after the proceedure. When teeth are cleaned you risk bacteria entering the blood stream. If you have a murmur, the blood can not get flushed through your heart completely and you risk getting endocarditis. Antibiotics are taken to prevent this. That's all you need and your dentist should be able to prescribe it. I think I'd find a new dentist.
2007-09-14 11:34:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You won't risk your heart condition by using antibiotics. These are important to take if you have a heart condition and need this type of dental trearment as it helps prevent bacteria going to the heart. You will need to speak with your cardiologist as I know it is a problem with my son as he has a conduit and the bacteria tends to go to foreign objects in the body. I don't think murmers are a problem as they don't have a foreign object inserted. I have a heart murmer and have not had to have antibiotics. It is always best to check and be sure. It is too late once the infection has occured. Better to be safe than sorry.
2007-09-15 14:34:20 · answer #3 · answered by Mum of four boys 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a previous responder said, the chief danger is bacterial endocarditis, bacterial growth on the heart valves. There are several standard prophylactic antibiotic protocols to prevent this. Perhaps your doctor would be willing to prescribe one of these antibiotics to take about an hour before cleaning. Some protocols call for taking a second dose after the dental visit, too.
2007-09-14 08:21:31 · answer #4 · answered by greydoc6 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Heart murmur can be a sign of many heart diseases.
Before any invasive procedure such as dental care, people with valvular heart diseases need to to prophylatic (preventing) antibiotic because of high risk for developing infectious endocarditis, a life threatening infection that is caused by the trapped bateria attaching to your heart valves. These bacteria will damage your heart certainly, and with each heart beat, there's risk that the bacteria will be transported to throoughout your body, causing whatever damage that it will do.
To my belief, I dont suggest you go to have your teeth done.
One recommendation is talking to your doctor and tell him about your heart murmur and your needed dental procedure and if antibiotic should be used before to prevent "Infectious Endocarditis". Every doctor should know this prophylatic antibiotic before dental procedure with people with heart infection like that. Talk to him about those 2 concerns.
2007-09-14 23:57:17 · answer #5 · answered by Neul 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stop Infections Heal Teeth : http://DentalBook.uzaev.com/?XCVq
2016-06-29 21:40:54 · answer #6 · answered by Julian 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WELL SWEETIE, I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME THING WHEN I HAVE DENTAL WORK DONE.. IF I WERE U, I WOULD CALL UR FAMILY DOCTOR AND TELL HIM ABOUT UR TEETH CONDITION, ALMOST ALL DOCTORS WILL CALL U IN SOME ATTIBIOTICS,, I AM SUPRISED UR DENTIST DIDNT,,,,GOOD LUCK
2007-09-14 08:21:29 · answer #7 · answered by angela a 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋