Impact of Dental Status on Heart Transplantation Outcomes

Oral infections and poor dental health may contribute to systemic complications after heart transplantation, yet data on their impact is limited. In the absence of standardized dental guidelines for transplant candidates, this study evaluated preoperative dental status and its association with post-transplant outcomes.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 72 patients who underwent heart transplantation between 2014 and 2019. Collected data included transplantation indications, dental findings, and postoperative outcomes. All patients received a preoperative panoramic dental X-ray and dental consultation.

Patients had an average of 23.88 teeth, and all presented with at least one dental filling. Periodontal abnormalities were present in 68%. While the decayed, missing, and filled teeth scores showed no significant association with post-transplant mortality (p = 0.076), both periodontal disease and carious lesions were significantly associated with sepsis (p = 0.003). Sepsis, in turn, was significantly linked to increased mortality (p = 0.001).

Poor dental health was not directly associated with post-transplant mortality but was linked to a higher sepsis risk, which negatively affected outcomes. These findings support the need for standardized dental care protocols for heart transplant candidates.