Dental procedures, heart disease and infectious endocarditis

Abstract

Introduction: infectious endocarditis is a life-threatening disease; it requires prolonged medical treatment and, in some cases, surgical; although its prevalence is lower in children than in adults, its incidence in pediatric patients could increase by increased survival of infants with cardiovascular malformations. The dental management of these patients is complex and presents deficiencies product of ignorance or outdated on the subject among the staff of Stomatology.

Objective: to develop an update on the management of antibiotic prophylaxis of infectious endocarditis in cardiac patients in need of stomatological treatment.

Method: digital and printed literature of the past five years on infectious endocarditis, dental procedures and antibiotic prophylaxis in databases LILACS and Cochrane, in national and international magazines, and books were reviewed; with this information a structured review on the subject was prepared.

Conclusions: proper oral hygiene and proper dental care reduce the frequency of occurrence of bacteremia and, thus, both are essential to prevent the development of infectious endocarditis in patients with congenital or acquired heart disease. In patients with heart disease or cardiac conditions associated with high risk for infectious endocarditis is recommended specific chemoprophylaxis for this disease prior to any stomatological intervention which perforates the oral mucosa or that includes manipulation of the gingival tissue or the periapical region of the tooth; cardiac patients with moderate risk of developing infectious endocarditis should be individually assessed by a specialist to determine the restriction of antibiotic prophylaxis.