The lyrics to the old song, Dem Bones don’t connect the hipbone directly to your mouth, but a surgeon might, by canceling hip surgery if the patient is suffering from acute gum disease. The reason for the cancellation would be for what is commonly referred to as the “mouth-body connection,” where infections in the mouth have been known to travel to other parts of the body and compromise the success of seemingly unrelated medical procedures.
If you already have a hip replacement, one of your doctor’s after-care advisements would have been to take antibiotics before any future dental visit. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery confirms that dental work can push bacteria into your bloodstream, causing an infection in your joint replacement. So, patients need to be proactive about preventing infection by using antibiotics before any type of dental work (other than simple teeth cleaning). Many patients with a history of heart disease are also advised to take antibiotics before their dental visits, so we ask that you please be aware of any pre-visit dental precautions you may have for your specific medical condition.
For more mouth-body connections, ask us about evidence pointing to a higher risk of gum disease in people with diabetes, and a possibility of an elevated risk of certain heart abnormalities, strokes and adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with periodontal infections.
Knowing about the mouth-body connection helps people understand how essential regular dental visits are. One of the standard procedures during a dental checkup, for example, is to remove plaque from your teeth. The simple act of removing this clear, sticky film of bacteria is the first step in preventing dental infection and disease. If plaque is not removed, it hardens into tartar and can lead to an infection of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth.
A dental checkup is a simple yet essential service. Please be sure to maintain a regular dental re-care schedule for optimum oral and general health.
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Dr. Librada C. Yamat is a Family Dentist specializing in Cosmetic Dentistry. She has been practicing since 1992 in her Daly City office located at 187 Southgate Ave. (650) 991-2832. She is president of the MCU Dental Alumni Association and former president of the American Federation of Filipino Dental Practitioners.