dental surgery

Transient Bradycardia during Dental Anesthesia: Risk Factors and Mechanisms

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Dental procedures are generally safe; however, transient bradycardia (TB), a temporary slowing of the heart rate, can sometimes occur during local anesthesia administration under sedation. This phenomenon, often linked to the trigeminal cardiac reflex (TCR), can occur during the administration of local anesthesia, particularly in patients undergoing sedation. Understanding the Mechanisms The TCR is a physiological response triggered by stimulation of the trigeminal nerve, which innervates the face and oral cavity. This stimulation can lead to a cascade of events, including a sudden decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as other autonomic responses. Identifying Risk Factors A recent prospective study identified several key risk factors associated with the occurrence of TB during dental anesthesia: Study Findings A study appearing in BMC Oral Health titled “Transient bradycardia during local anaesthesia to the oral cavity under intravenous sedation and … Read more

Antibiotics for Dental Use Contributing to SuperBugs

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Research has shown that antibiotics prescribed by dentists for various dental surgeries and procedures may contribute to the development of Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a serious and potentially deadly infection with severe diarrhea. A common questions many patients ask if they are having their wisdom teeth out includes if they should take antibiotics. This topic has been covered before on teethremoval.com, for example see http://www.teethremoval.com/antibiotic_resistance.html, https://blog.teethremoval.com/patients-perception-of-antibiotic-need-after-teeth-removal/,and https://blog.teethremoval.com/the-effect-of-a-single-dose-of-antibiotics-prior-to-wisdom-teeth-surgery/. The current guidance seems to recommend a single dose of antibiotics prior to surgery for high risk patients for postoperative infections but other healthy patients do not need any antibiotics prior to surgery. During the annual ID Week2017, which is an annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS), researchers presented their findings on antibiotic prescriptions leading … Read more