Latest Dental News: Oral Bacteria can lead to Heart Disease and Meningitis
According to International Journal of Systemic and Evolutionary Microbiology, it has been detected that common inhabitant of oral cavity i.e. streptococcus bacteria can cause great risk to human health by causing diseases to heart and brain.
The bacteria were first found by the researchers at the Institute of Medical Microbiology at Zurich and it was named Streptococcus tigurinus. The fact came into light when the bacteria was found in the blood stream of patients having serious diseases like Endocarditis, Meningitis etc and also there was found close relation between this bacteria and the one that forms colonies in the oral cavity.
The way of entering the oral bacteria into the blood stream can probably be Bleeding Gums according to the experts. Having the bacteria in blood stream is a proof of the existence of bacteria from such a long time and by doing the complete study of the strategies followed by bacteria, it can be possible to treat the patients suffering from these heart and brain diseases.
According to Dr. Zbinden, discovery of these new bacteria does not give the emergency signals but this indicates the great risk of spread of diseases during dental procedures. So proper antibiotic coverage should be given and preventional steps should be taken for those who have the great risk of developing Endocarditis and Meningitis. Care is necessary during the following Dental Procedures:
• Extraction
• Implants placement
• Scaling and Root Planing
• Bleeding during any of the preventive procedures.
• During strips placement in gum line.
• Intraligamentary injections.
Conditions having risk of developing complications due to Dental Problems
• Patients having artificial Cardiac Valve.
• Any previous history of Bacterial Endocarditis.
• Patient having Congenital Heart Diseases.
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
Antibiotic Coverage
Patients having the risk of developing these diseases should be given Amoxicillin 2g before the procedure for adults and for children it should be 50 mg before 1 hour from procedure.
Gentamicin should be added where the risk is more.
