Rare Case Highlights Importance of Communication and Follow-up After Dental Procedures
An interesting article titled “The interplay among a dental procedure, infective endocarditis, and an acute ischemic stroke” appears in the Journal of the American Dental Association by Momodou G. Bah and et. al., published January 24, 2024. The article discusses a case report that shares the importance of communication and follow-up after dental procedures, especially when it comes to potential complications like infective endocarditis and stroke. The Case: A previously healthy 54-year-old woman experienced a cracked tooth while eating, specifically tooth #30 while chewing a popcorn kernel. Her dentist extracted the tooth, but she did not inform the dentist about persistent pain at the site for two weeks, and there were no follow-up calls scheduled. Five weeks later, she developed stroke symptoms and was diagnosed with infective endocarditis, a rare but serious infection of the heart valves. The Connection: Tests … Read more