The Importance of Oral Health To Organ Transplant Patients
While organ transplant procedures have been a game-changer in life-saving options for those with organ failure, they are not without risk. The need for immunosuppressive therapy to prevent the body from rejecting the organ leads to a greater susceptibility to infection from any source. While tooth decay and gum disease may seem like minor concerns, when they occur in transplant patients, they present a serious risk to their overall health. Further, those with poor oral hygiene have been shown to have lower success rates from organ transplant treatments. The team at Danforth Dental Solutions is here to help patients with complex dental cases like this ensure they retain a healthy smile and optimal overall health.
The Importance of Oral Health To Organ Transplant Patients
Transplants in Canada currently have no guidelines that determine eligibility based on patient oral health details. However, the strong correlation between patients with poor oral health struggling after an organ transplant is a compelling reason to ensure your smile is in great shape before and after the transplant. Gingivitis, periodontitis, and other infections in the oral cavity have a detrimental effect on our immune system. These conditions trigger it, leading to elevated inflammation and an increased risk of advanced heart disease earlier in life.
These facts make it essential that getting your oral health in order prior to the transplant and keeping your smile healthy afterward are critical steps. The Danforth Dental Solutions team offers patients anticipating a transplant the following steps to ensure their highest chance of a positive outcome:
- Consistent Oral Hygiene Practices – The three elements of dental hygiene, brushing, flossing, and mouthwash, are important at any stage of your journey. However, they have to be consistent to get the best possible results and prevent the onset of tooth decay and gum disease. Make sure you have a tight regimen on these and practice them as consistently as possible.
- Professional Dental Cleanings – Getting your teeth cleaned by our team of professionals is more than just vanity. We remove the stubborn plaque and tartar that can form on your dental surface in difficult-to-reach areas. We also check for developing issues in the oral cavity and help provide guidance for improving your dental hygiene routine.
- Restoration Dental Treatments – Chips, cracks, and cavities indicate weakness in your enamel that can provide a path for bacteria to attack your tooth more effectively. Restoration dentistry can seal these vulnerabilities and help increase your chance of avoiding dental infection.
These are just a few ways Danforth Dental Solutions can help provide the best possible experience for organ transplant patients. Good oral health helps you feel better, look better, and ensures that there’s one less source of infection for your body to fight.
Learn More With Danforth Dental Solutions Today
Chronic conditions of any kind require an extra level of care at every point of our healthcare. Living with an organ transplant can be challenging enough without having to worry about the impact on your oral health. Get a handle on it by scheduling a visit to our office in Toronto, ON, or you can call to schedule your appointment at (416) 461-6516.
