Dental Management Considerations for the Cardiac Patient

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, making it inevitable that dentists will encounter patients with this condition. A thorough understanding of the medical and surgical management of these patients is essential to ensure safe and effective delivery of dental care. A comprehensive preoperative evaluation, optimal perioperative tissue management, and thorough review of postoperative instructions are each critical in reducing the risk of postoperative bleeding and avoiding medical complications when rendering dental services. Additionally, the need for antibiotic prophylaxis and current recommendations for pre-surgical dental intervention will be discussed. This review aims to help elucidate the current guidelines and existing literature, providing insight into best practices for managing this common, yet complex, patient population.