Artificial Heart Valves Potential medical problems of artificial heart valves include endocarditis, transient bacteremias, prolonged bleeding. Prophylactic antibiotic coverage before and after dental treatment is indicated. The reduced submandibular salivary flow found in this population interferes with the ability to maintain good oral hygiene, as does impaired memory. Oral lesions occur due to falls, injury with forks, or due to mastication. Demented patients often misplace dentures due to poor memory, and sometimes try to wear the lower denture on the upper arch or the upper denture on the lower arch.
Treatment can become very difficult when individuals are no longer cooperative.
One of the most important points to remember is to encourage caregivers of demented patients to enforce a daily oral hygiene protocol. As the disease progresses, the caregiver often must perform the oral hygiene for the patient. Diabetes mellitus Patients with uncontrolled diabetes have frequent infections and poor wound healing. They are at increased risk for periodontal disease, oral ulcerations and burning mouth. It is important to be sure that the patient has eaten before the dental treatment so that hypoglycemia does not occur during the treatment.