It is now well established that heart health and dental health are closely linked. A recent study shows a direct correlation between the number of teeth in the mouth and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The mechanism of action of oral bacteria explaining the link between cause and effect is known for a long time.

The bacteria proliferate in the course of a dental infection (abscess, periodontal pocket or Dehausse) migrate into the bloodstream and will bind to remote organs of the body. When bacteria colonize the heart valves, they create an infectious endocarditis whose consequences can be fatal in people with heart disease. Infective endocarditis of oral origin (abscess, periodontal pocket or Dehausse) represent 20% of cases.

People with heart problems, particularly those at risk of infective endocarditis (MREI) should therefore be monitored regularly their dental condition, a visit to the dentist twice a year as minimum.

Endocarditis and dental monitoring

However, according to a study conducted by the Regional Union of Caisses d’Assurance disease Rhone-Alpes (1), monitoring of annual dental patients at risk for infective endocarditis is not better than the general population and it appears that she is even less! According to URCAM, patients at high risk of infective endocarditis (2) are less well followed in the dental plan.

Dental Risk: Loss of consciousness

This failure stems from a lack of awareness of patients and also their family doctor, the impact of dental problems on heart health. The URCAM said on its website: “Various information materials have been sent to MREI the intervention group and their doctor. This means that the doctor did not consider the information documents that have been submitted yet. “The information was not significantly associated with the biannual monitoring. Similarly, the information was not significantly associated with annual monitoring, while the reference monitoring on dental care protocol was very strongly” precise site of the insurance.

It is therefore not a lack of information but a lack of awareness of the crucial area that represents the mouth in terms of health *.

Infective endocarditis: dental risk underestimated

We can conclude that even today, the health risk generally associated with poor oral health, is widely underestimated by patients and doctors themselves, whose studies, it is true, their leave serious gaps in this area. Health suffers from the dichotomy that develops dice the second year in the medical curriculum among dentists on one side and the other doctors.