A medically compromised condition is where the patient suffers from a certain systemic condition which puts him at a risk when regular dental treatment is required. Due to this your doctor has to take certain precautions so as to enable you to go through the treatment without complications.

1. For Heart Patients

Prior to treatment give complete medical history to your dentist. Consultation with heart specialist is necessary to determine the ability to tolerate the planned dental treatment, complications that can arise and antibiotics should be started. 

  • Gum bleeding is likely to take place during dental procedures like scaling, minor surgeries etc therefore stick to your doctor’s instructions of taking antibiotic prophylaxis. 
  • Dental procedures that do not require prior antibiotics include those which may not induce gum bleeding such as simple orthodontic appliances, filling above the gum line, injection of local anaesthetics. 
  • Pulp therapy of baby teeth is not recommended due to high risk of chronic infection. Instead extraction of the offending tooth and its replacement with a space maintainer is better.
  • In the permanent  teeth, root canal treatment may be taken after careful evaluation and case selection (a tooth with a poor prognosis is better removed).
  • You can ask your dentist for oral sedatives and painkillers which may be beneficial in reducing anxiety and minimising risks. 
  • If you are taking anticoagulant therapy, get your blood test done and inform your dentist so that your anticoagulant therapy can be ceased. 
  • Children suffering from severe heart disease requiring extensive dental work should be treated in a hospital under general anaesthesia. 


2. For Diabetes Patients

Diabetes mellitus is most common endocrine disease. It is often associated with an inadequate supply of a hormone called insulin to meet physiological needs of the body. Oral symptoms include reduced salivary flow,burning mouth or tongue, fungal infection, altered taste, dental decay, gum disease, oral neuropathy’s, parotid enlargement, delayed wound healing etc. 

  • Dental management is aimed at implementation of preventive protocol, symptomatic relief of any oral disease and immediate primary care.  
  • Give your doctor complete medical history along with screening tests for blood sugar level. 
  • Try to keep your appointment with the dentist short, stress free, as atraumatic as possible. 
  • Early morning appointments are preferred and you should eat a normal breakfast before the appointment to prevent hypoglycemia. 
  • In children pulp therapy may be preferred to a stressed extraction procedure under local anaesthesia. 
  • Prophylactic antibiotic may be recommended in use of surgical procedures.                     

It has been reported that well controlled well diabetic experiences a normal or even reduced level of dental decay, which has been attributed to restriction of sugar and carbohydrates, effective metabolic control, good oral hygiene, regular dental check-up. Dietary control is often difficult to enforce which encourages frequent snacking, elevated salivary sugar, decreased salivary flow may be responsible for increasing dental decay in uncontrolled patients. Keeping all the above points in mind and cooperating with your dentist will surely help you go through your dental visits successfully.