Abstract 130 Poster Session III, Monday, 5/3 (poster 137)

Dental screenings were performed on 209 patients 6 months and older who were scheduled for cardiac surgery from two different geographical locations. The screening involved an educational session on bacterial endocarditis and preventive dentistry followed by an intraoral and extraoral head and neck examination. We found that 62 (30%) patients had seen a dentist regularly, 93 (44%) practiced daily oral hygiene and 37 (18%) knew about bacterial endocarditis. Local dentists performed invasive procedures on 71 (34%) patients and 34 (48%) received antibiotics before and after the dental procedures. Only 23 (68%) of the 34 patients received the current American Heart Association antibiotic regimen. Dental pathosis was diagnosed in 175 (84%) of the 209 patients: 164 (78%) gingivitis; 60 (29%) caries; 6 (7%) dental abcess; 3 (1%) periodontal abcess; 5 (2%) periocornitis. There were insignificant differences in the results between the two locations. Cardiac surgery was postponed in 24 (12%) patients. In conclusion, 1) Parents lacked knowledge about bacterial endocarditis even after being informed during their routine cardiology visit 2) There appears to be a deficiency of knowledge among dentists regarding the indications and antibiotic regimen required to prevent bacterial endocarditis 3) Cardiac patients should have a preventive dental program implemented prior to 6 months of age and 4) All patients should have a dental screening prior to cardiac surgery.