Endocarditis following IUD insertion in a patient with tetralogy of Fallot.

The role of antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of infective endocarditis is unknown. Endocarditis prophylaxis is recommended for certain high-risk individuals prior to dental procedures. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature of a patient with complex congenital heart disease developing endocarditis in the period immediately following otherwise uncomplicated intrauterine device insertion.

Protocols for treating patients with end-stage renal disease: a survey of undergraduate dental programs.

RATIONALE/BACKGROUND: Approximately 14% of Americans are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the result of progressing CKD continues to rise by 21,000 per year. There are no updated, evidence-based antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines for patients with renal disease undergoing dental treatment. The most recent was a scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) in 2003. Presented in three parts, the goal of the first part of this study is to determine the current protocol being used to treat renal patients at U.S. dental schools. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A 21 multiple-choice question survey was e-mailed to 58 clinic deans of accredited dental schools in the United States regarding renal treatment protocol details including antibiotic prophylaxis. RESULTS: Fifty-two percent of programs report having no established renal patient treatment protocol. For programs with a protocol, when using prophylactic antibiotics, 54% followed AHA protocol, whereas 62% used a modified protocol. CONCLUSION: There is a lack of consistent, established protocols among undergraduate dental programs. It is suggested that evidence-based guidelines for the safe treatment of patients be developed.

Protocols for treating patients with end-stage renal disease: a survey of AEGD/GPR dental residencies.

RATIONALE/BACKGROUND: Approximately 14% of Americans are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The prevalence of end stage renal disease (ESRD), the result of progressing CKD continues to rise by 21,000 per year.Currently the only antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines for patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dental treatment were published by the AHA in 2003. Presented in three parts, the first part of this study found no consistent protocols amongst U.S. dental schools. The goal of the second part of the project was to determine the current protocol being used to treat ESRD patients at accredited U.S. AEGD and GPR programs. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A 20 multiple choice question survey was e-mailed to 262 directors of AEGDs and GPRs within the United States regarding renal treatment protocol details and antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with renal disease. RESULTS: 34% of respondents reported having an established renal treatment protocol. For programs with a protocol, 65.5% of programs reported following AHA guidelines. CONCLUSION: There is a lack of consistent, established protocols amongst U.S. AEGD and GPR programs. It is suggested that updated and evidence based guidelines for the safe treatment of patients be developed.

Study of the impacts of patient-educators on the course of basic sciences in dental studies.

Ever since 2006, Nantes University dental educators have started organising lectures led by the mother of a young patient suffering from ectodermic dysplasia (patient-educator) to help second-year students to better understand how important it is for their future dental work to better understand basic sciences. In this study, we have analysed this training experience on students' motivation. For this purpose, students were asked to complete questionnaires 10 days after the patient-educator's lecture (early assessment; n = 193) and 4 years later, during the last year of their dental studies (delayed assessment; n = 47). Moreover, 3 years after the first lecture, we analysed the ability of students to diagnose a mother carrying the ectodermic dysplasia genetic disorder, using a case-based learning exercise with a patient showing dental features similar to those exposed by the patient-educator (measure of knowledge; n = 42). Ten days after the lecture, the early assessment shows that all the students were interested in the lecture and 59% of the students declared being motivated to find out more about genetics whilst 54% declared the same thing about embryology courses. Moreover, 4 years later, 67% of the students remembered the patient-educator's lecture a little or very well. Three years after the course, 83% of the students diagnosed ectodermal dysplasia whilst studying the case-based example that listed typical dental phenotypes. In conclusion, this study shows that this original educational approach enhances dental students' motivation in learning basic sciences and that patient-educators could offer many benefits for students and patients.

Pulp therapy in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease: survey of American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry members.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify treatment options recommended by American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) members concerning pulp treatment in primary teeth in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: A web-based survey was sent to all active members of the AAPD. The survey contained radiographs of pulpally involved primary teeth, a description of associated signs/symptoms, and a medical history of the patient who was positive for a type of CHD. Pediatric dentists were requested to report treatment recommendations. RESULTS: Of the 6,590 surveys sent, 1,493 surveys (23%) were completed. Most respondents preferred to extract the tooth with the clinical presentation of irreversible pulpitis followed by distal shoe space maintenance when the patient presented with a negative medical history. By contrast, approximately half of the respondents elected to extract this tooth without space maintenance for all of the cardiac conditions. By contrast, most respondents elected to perform a pulpotomy in the case of reversible pulpitis regardless of the medical history. Indirect or direct pulp therapy were the least chosen options for both presentations. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of CHD affects treatment decisions in teeth exhibiting irreversible pulpitis with symptomatic apical periodontitis but not in teeth displaying reversible pulpitis with a normal periodontal status.

Desmitificando o atendimento odontológico ao paciente hipertenso / Demystifying the management of hypertension dental patients

A hipertensão arterial é um problema de saúde pública e a literatura carece de um posicionamento direcionado ao tratamento odontológico ambulatorial do paciente hipertenso. O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar se existem limites pressóricos estabelecidos para a realização de procedimentos médicos e odontológicos ambulatoriais, mediante a revisão das Diretrizes de Hipertensão e de Avaliação Perioperatória. Como resultado, não foram encontradas evidências em cardiologia que fundamentem estabelecer limites pressóricos aos procedimentos médicos e odontológicos ambulatoriais e, portanto, inexistem motivos para implementar restrições baseadas na pressão arterial para a realização desses procedimentos.

Hypertension is a public health problem and the literature lacks an approach focused on the outpatient dental treatment of hypertensive patients. The purpose of this study is to ascertain wheter blood pressure limits have been set for medical and dental outpatient procedures, through a review of the Hypertension and Perioperative Cardiovascular Guidelines. As no evidence was found in cardiology that underpins the establishment of blood pressure limits for medical and dental outpatient procedures, there are thus no reasons to implement limits for these procedures, based on blood pressure.

Medical and dental standardization for solid organ transplant recipients.

Communication between the organ transplant team and dentist is important in formulating individualized care plans to reduce the incidence of pre- and post-transplant complications. Periodontal diseases and other oral infections may present serious risks that could compromise the success of a solid organ transplant. This article reviews why dentistry is an important component of total transplant care while the patient is on the waiting list for a transplant and after the transplantation. Recommendations regarding the care of the organ transplant patient are given.

Ética y bioseguridad en la atención estomatológica al paciente con virus de inmunodeficiencia humana / Ethics and biosafety in dental care for patients with human immunodeficiency virus

Fundamento: la única forma de contraer el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana durante el tratamiento estomatológico es a través del contacto de la sangre de un paciente seropositivo con la piel o mucosa no intacta del profesional, lo cual demanda medidas de bioseguridad para reducir el riesgo de infección cruzada así como el cumplimiento de aspectos bioéticos a tener en cuenta en la asistencia a dichos pacientes.Objetivo: determinar el nivel de conocimientos de estomatólogos sobre bioseguridad y el principio bioético de justicia en el tratamiento a pacientes con virus de inmunodeficiencia humana.Métodos: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal que incluyó a 45 profesionales que laboraron en consultorios estomatológicos de tres parroquias en Caracas, Venezuela, durante enero a diciembre de 2010. Se analizó: conocimientos sobre bioseguridad (mecanismos de transmisión de la enfermedad, medidas de control, flujograma de esterilización, medidas ante un accidente de trabajo) y sobre el principio bioético justicia (momento y lugar de tratamiento, instrumental a utilizar, tiempo a dedicar al paciente). Resultados: se obtuvo como nivel de conocimiento sobre el principio bioético de justicia: bueno el 40 por ciento, regular el 37,7 por ciento y malo el 22,2 por ciento. En relación con las medidas de bioseguridad: bueno el 26,6 por ciento, regular el 24,4 por ciento y malo el 48,8 por ciento.Conclusiones: el nivel de conocimientos sobre el principio bioético de justicia y sobre las medidas de bioseguridad para tratar a pacientes que viven con virus de inmunodeficiencia humana es insatisfactorio en más de la mitad de los estomatólogos encuestados(AU)

Background: the only way of contracting human immunodeficiency virus during dental treatment is through contact with the blood of an HIV-positive patient with non-intact skin or mucosa of the professional. This requires biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of crossed infection and ensure compliance of bioethical aspects to be considered when treating these patients.Objective: To determine knowledge levels of dentists on biosafety and bioethical principle of justice in the treatment of patients with human immunodeficiency virus.Methods: A cross sectional and descriptive study was conducted involving 45 professionals who worked in Stomatological clinics of three parishes in Caracas, Venezuela, from January to December 2010. The following were analyzed: knowledge on biosafety (mechanisms of disease transmission, control measures and flowchart sterilization measures before an accident) and the justice bioethical principle (time and place of treatment, instruments used and time to devote to patient). Results: The knowledge level according to the bioethical principle of justice was assessed: 40 percent for good, 37.7 percent for average and 22.2 percent for bad. For biosecurity measures it was obtained: 26.6 percent good, 24.4 percent average and 48.8 percent bad. Conclusions: knowledge level on the bioethical principle of justice and biosecurity measures to treat patients living with human immunodeficiency virus is unsatisfactory in more than half of the dentists surveyed(AU)

A new approach to ensuring oral health care for people living with HIV/AIDS: the dental case manager.

INTRODUCTION: The American Dental Association has identified several barriers to adequate dental care for vulnerable populations, including appropriate case management. The objective of this study was to examine the perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs of dental patients living with HIV/AIDS on the role and value of the dental case manager (DCM) and the effect of DCM services on their oral or overall health. METHODS: We used a qualitative descriptive study design and focus groups. Twenty-five people who had received DCM services on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, attended 1 of 5 focus groups in 2009 and 2010. Digital recordings of the groups were transcribed verbatim. Textual data were categorized using directed qualitative content analysis techniques. We identified major themes and representative quotes. RESULTS: The following themes emerged from discussions on the DCM's role: being available, knowledgeable about clients and insurance, and empathetic; increasing access; and providing comfort. Most participants credited their oral and overall health improvements to the DCM. All participants believed that the DCM was a valuable addition to the clinic and noted that other at-risk populations, including the elderly and developmentally disabled, likely would benefit from working with a DCM. CONCLUSION: The addition of a DCM facilitated access to dental care among this sample of people living with HIV/AIDS, providing them with an advocate and resulting in self-reported improvements to oral and overall health.

Access to primary dental care for patients with inherited bleeding disorders.

Patients with inherited bleeding disorders (IBD) can face difficulty in accessing primary dental care either due to disease-specific or patient-related barriers. This can lead to poor oral health and increase the need for more invasive dental treatment. This study aimed to highlight actual and perceived barriers that IBD patients from the East London area were experiencing. It also gives an overview of the experience history of the General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) treating these patients. Information was gathered via pre-designed surveys as part of a service development audit. A total of 105 anonymous patient surveys and 50 GDP surveys were completed between December 2010 and July 2011. The patient survey highlighted more patients to be affected by patient-related than disease-specific barriers to access dental care. The GDP survey identified that just under half of GDPs questioned were not confident in the dental management of patients with bleeding disorders. Identifying misconceptions and barriers to access primary dental care will enable further development of our shared-care approach between General Dental Services, Hospital or Community Dental Services and Haemophilia Centre, optimizing regular preventative advice and follow ups to prevent dental disease and invasive dental treatment requiring haemostatic treatment.