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Devising a pro forma for dental screening of patients before invasive cardiac surgery

British Dental Journal volume 232, pages 151–154 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Certain types of invasive cardiac surgery can place patients at risk of developing infective endocarditis from dental pathology or dental treatment. University Hospital Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust is the regional centre for cardiac surgery in the South West of the UK and is part of the South Wales and South West Congenital Heart Disease Network. As part of this network, the Special Care Dental Department within Bristol Dental Hospital provides dental screening for patients pending invasive cardiac surgery. These are conducted to identify dental pathology in individuals who will be at risk of infective endocarditis, so where possible, they are rendered dentally fit before their surgery.

Presented is the information that led to the creation of a screening pro forma, for the dental assessment of patients before invasive cardiac surgery, suitable for use in primary or secondary care. This was produced following an audit, to ensure that along with identifying sources of dental pathology, the dental screening is also documenting the risk of dental pathology and modifiable risk factors. This enables tailored preventative advice which is important to help reduce a patient's lifetime risk of infective endocarditis from dental pathology. Other information used to help develop the pro forma taken from the audit, regional and national guidance is also discussed.

Key points

  • Certain types of invasive cardiac surgery can place patients at risk of developing infective endocarditis from dental pathology or dental treatment.

  • Presented is the information that led to the creation of a screening pro forma for the dental assessment of patients before invasive cardiac surgery, which aids alignment of the screening to regional and national guidelines.

  • This includes a focus on assessing future risk of dental pathology and modifiable risk factors to enable tailored preventative advice, which is important to help reduce a patient's lifetime risk of infective endocarditis from dental pathology.

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References

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Acknowledgements

Thank you to Dr S. Ali, Consultant in Special Care Dentistry at Bristol Dental Hospital for contribution to the pro forma.

The views within the submitted manuscript are the authors' alone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Specialty Registrar in Special Care Dentistry, Bristol Dental Hospital, University Hospital Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK

    Gemma Allen

  2. Consultant in Special Care Dentistry, Bristol Dental Hospital, University Hospital Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK

    Anthony Brooke

Authors
  1. Gemma Allen
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  2. Anthony Brooke
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Contributions

Gemma Allen devised the pro forma, wrote the manuscript and performed the audit detailed within the manuscript. Anthony Brooke contributed to and assisted with finalisation of the pro forma and the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gemma Allen.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Allen, G., Brooke, A. Devising a pro forma for dental screening of patients before invasive cardiac surgery. Br Dent J 232, 151–154 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-3881-y

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