Saturday, April 9, 2011

should i be worried about dental death?

I have horrible teeth and am finally seeing a dentist, after several years of no insurance.... I met somebody once, who worked for a dental group, who gave me a frightening statistic: that "250,000 people die every year undergoing dental procedures". Is that acurate? Im really concerned. Ive got tons and tons of dental damage, and i have heart problems, that i take medication for. Should i be concerned about dying while having my dental work done???!!!
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Huh. That sounds like an awfully high number... Have you ever heard the quote, "90% of all statistics are made up on the spot?" I think that might be an appropriate statement in this situation. That being said... make sure you are completely honest when filling out your medical history with your dentist. Some heart conditions require that you take an antibiotic prior to any dental treatment to prevent what is called "bacterial endocarditis." Basically, you get a dose of antibiotic to stop any bacteria/infection before it has a chance to travel to your heart. Actually, having heart problems makes it MORE IMPORTANT for you to take care of your dental health. A lot of people do not realize that your mouth and your heart are directly connected. Gum disease is directly linked to heart disease, and by maintaining GOOD oral health can help with your heart problems... Good luck. Take care of your mouth. You will feel better and your overall health will improve! I promise!
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