KissMeGoodnight eRomance Series:
I Want White Teeth and a
Natural, Healthy Looking Smile
(someone please tell me the secret already...)
( 21 pages )

Certain physical conditions cause interaction with some medications. The circumstances that determine whether special care needs to be taken with regard to your dental treatments are heart conditions and joint replacement.

One situation that should be approached with care is Bacterial Endocarditis. Your dentist may recommend a regimen of antibiotics prior to your dental treatment to insure that you are protected should there be any blood loss during the treatment. This is normally done as a precaution to combat potential bacterial infection. Some of the heart conditions that would fall under this category are:

• Recent heart surgery
• Congenital heart defect
• Artificial heart valve
• Recent vascular surgery
• Heart murmur
• Rheumatic fever
• Previous bacterial endocarditis
• Pacemaker

If any of these apply to your situation or you are seeing a new dentist for the first time, make certain that the dentist is fully aware of your medical history.

The same course of action should be taken if you have had joint replacement for the same reason, a precaution to combat potential bacterial infection.

Other high risk situations apply as well. If any of the following conditions apply to you advise your dentist:

• Hemophilia
• Malnourishment
• Type 1 insulin dependent
• Cancer
• HIV
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Immunosuppression

Also make certain that you keep your dentist apprised of any changes in your health and medications.

Other drug information

If you take aspirin or any other anticoagulants like heparin or warfarin, make sure your dentist is aware of it. These are great drugs for preventing heart disease and stroke, but might cause a problem while undergoing oral surgery or periodontal treatments.

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