Medical disorders relating to dentistry

Question 1

Why could a patient with heart conditions affect dental treatment?

Answer 1

The stress/anxiety of dental treatment could cause an already malfunctioning heart to stop coping, potentially leading to a medical emergency

Question 2

What is myocarditis?

Answer 2

Inflammation of heart muscles, usually following a viral infection

Question 3

What is Valvular disease?

Answer 3

Inadequate function of any of the 4 heart valves

Question 4

What is Angina?

Answer 4

Reduced blood flow due to a partial obstruction/clot

Question 5

What is a stroke?

Answer 5

Full obstruction of a cerebral artery

Question 6

What is a cerebral artery?

Answer 6

A brain artery

Question 7

What is a pulmonary embolism?

Answer 7

Full obstruction of a pulmonary artery

Question 8

What does a pulmonary artery supply?

Answer 8

The lungs with deoxygenated blood to be reoxygenated

Question 9

Why are blood disorders relevant to dentistry?

Answer 9

A blood disorder usually means the body is receiving insufficient amounts of oxygen, this could pose a risk for treatment under sedation or general anaesthetic

Question 10

What is anaemia?

Answer 10

A blood condition meaning the erythrocytes are carrying insufficient amounts of oxygen

Question 11

What are the causes of anaemia?

Answer 11

Iron deficiency, insufficient production of red blood cells (erythrocytes)

Question 12

What is a haemorrhage?

Answer 12

Excessive bleeding

Question 13

Why might a patient haemorrhage?

Answer 13

If taking anti-coagulants and precautions haven’t been taken prior to extraction

Question 14

What precautions can be taken for a patient due to have an extraction but is taking warfarin?

Answer 14

The patient should have an INR test on the day of treatment and only go ahead with treatment if the score is between 2-4

Question 15

What precautions can be taken for a patient due to have an extraction but is taking apixaban?

Answer 15

The patients doctor must deem it safe for the patient to stop taking the medication 3 days prior to extraction

Question 16

If a patient is taking apixaban, but their doctor feels it is unsafe for the patient to stop taking it for 3 days to have an extraction, what option does the patient have?

Answer 16

Referral to the hospital for extraction under LA, sedation or GA

Question 17

What is bronchial asthma?

Answer 17

Breathing difficulties

Question 18

Why is bronchial asthma relevant to dentistry?

Answer 18

Stressful situations can cause anxiety which increases the risk of an asthma attack

Question 19

What medications will make bronchial asthma worse?

Answer 19

NSAID’s

Question 20

What does NSAID’s stand for?

Answer 20

Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs

Question 21

What is an example of NSAID’s?

Answer 21

Aspirin and ibuprofen

Question 22

Which two medical emergencies are not respiratory disorders but do restrict or block the airways?

Answer 22

Choking or anaphylaxis

Question 23

Which are the two types of bronchitis?

Answer 23

Acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis

Question 24

What is acute bronchitis?

Answer 24

Inflammation of the bronchi

Question 25

What is the bronchi?

Answer 25

The main airways to the lungs

Question 26

How is acute bronchitis caused?

Answer 26

Usually follows a respiratory infection

Question 27

Why is acute bronchitis less relevant to dentistry then chronic bronchitis?

Answer 27

Acute bronchitis is short lived but usually leaves people bed-bound

Question 28

What is chronic bronchitis?

Answer 28

Increasingly narrow airways

Question 29

What are the probable causes of chronic bronchitis?

Answer 29

Smoking or occupants of a heavily industrialised area

Question 30

What is a big give away symptom of chronic bronchitis?

Answer 30

Coughing up lots of sputum

Question 31

What does sputum mean?

Answer 31

Phlegm

Question 32

Why is bronchitis relevant to dentistry?

Answer 32

Patients who suffer from bronchitis are prone to chest infections so shouldn't be treated under sedation unless in a hospital and general anaesthetic should be the last resort.

Question 33

What is emphysema ?

Answer 33

A condition which affects external respiration?

Question 34

What is external respiration?

Answer 34

Where with every breath the carbon dioxide is breathed out and more oxygen breathed in

Question 35

What does COPD stand for?

Answer 35

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Question 36

What is COPD?

Answer 36

The combination of bronchitis and emphysema together

Question 37

What is dysphagia?

Answer 37

Difficulty swallowing

Question 38

Possible causes of dysphagia are:

Answer 38

Xerostomia Mucosal damage from acid reflux Poor muscular control when swallowing Oesophageal tightening from acid reflux scars Poor nervous control swallowing from stroke

Question 39

Why is dysphagia relevant to dentistry?

Answer 39

It could lead to malnourishment leaving the patient prone to infection and poor wound healing

Question 40

What is gastro-oesophageal reflux?

Answer 40

Acid reflux

Question 41

What digestive system disorder could occur after a large meal?

Answer 41

gastro-oesophageal reflux (acid reflux)

Question 42

What digestive system disorder could occur from eating just before lying down or bending?

Answer 42

gastro-oesophageal reflux (acid reflux)

Question 43

What digestive system disorder could occur in the final stages of pregnany?

Answer 43

gastro-oesophageal reflux (acid reflux)

Question 44

The pain from gastro-oesophageal reflux (acid reflux) is described as:

Answer 44

heart burn/indigestion

Question 45

What digestive system disorder does the following describe: Part of the stomach is forced through the diaphragm and is stuck in the thoracic cavity.

Answer 45

Hiatus hernia

Question 46

What can a hiatus hernia cause?

Answer 46

Acid reflux

Question 47

What does a hiatus hernia affect?

Answer 47

The emptying of the stomach

Question 48

Why is a hiatus hernia relevant to dentistry?

Answer 48

Acid reflux can cause acid erosion over time. Digestive problems means the body cannot remove toxins from drugs such as LA as quickly as usual

Question 49

Why is gastro-oesophageal reflux (acid reflux relevant to dentistry?

Answer 49

It can cause acid erosion of the teeth over time.

Question 50

Why is bulimia a relevant medical disorder to dentistry?

Answer 50

The frequent vomiting will cause acid erosion of the teeth

Question 51

What are the first signs of bulimia when looking at a patient's teeth?

Answer 51

Acid erosion starting with the palatal surfaces of the anterior teeth

Question 52

What does Chron's disease affect?

Answer 52

The gastro-intestinal tract (GIT)

Question 53

How does Chron's disease affect the body?

Answer 53

The walls of the GIT thicken and eventually cannot absorb any nutrients

Question 54

Why is Chron's disease relevant to dentistry?

Answer 54

It can cause malnourishment leaving patient's prone to infection and poor wound healing.

Question 55

Why are gastric ulcers relevant to dentistry?

Answer 55

Because syptoms include vomiting which can cause acid erosion over time.