The Medically Complex Dental Patient: A Review of Pre-Procedural Clearance and Peri-Operative Management
Abstract
Background: The rising prevalence of medically complex patients, with conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and anticoagulant use, elevates the risk of perioperative complications during routine dental care. Aim: This review analyzes the fragmented pre-procedural clearance process, advocates for a standardized interdisciplinary pathway, and evaluates essential components for safe treatment. Methods: A narrative synthesis of literature (2010-2024) was conducted, focusing on medical consultation guidelines, laboratory testing utility, and coordinated care models. Results: Adverse events are commonly linked to poor interprofessional communication, inappropriate medication management, and inadequate patient optimization. Conclusion: Establishing clear protocols, enhanced by dedicated communication roles and nursing-led pre-operative clinics, is crucial for standardizing care, improving outcomes, and safely managing this vulnerable population.
Full text article
References
Abiko, Y., Paudel, D., Matsuoka, H., Moriya, M., & Toyofuku, A. (2021). Psychological backgrounds of medically compromised patients and its implication in dentistry: A narrative review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(16), 8792. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168792
Al‐Mahalawy, H., El‐Mahallawy, Y., & El Tantawi, M. (2020). Dentists’ practices and patient safety: A cross‐sectional study. European Journal of Dental Education, 24(3), 381-389. https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12513
Al-Mohaissen, M. A., Al-Mehisen, R., Lee, T., & Al-Madi, E. M. (2022). Managing cardiac patients: dentists’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices. international dental journal, 72(3), 296-307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2021.04.006
Baron, T. H., Kamath, P. S., & McBane, R. D. (2013). Management of antithrombotic therapy in patients undergoing invasive procedures. New England Journal of Medicine, 368(22), 2113-2124. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1206531
Becker, D. E., & Reed, K. L. (2012). Local anesthetics: review of pharmacological considerations. Anesthesia progress, 59(2), 90-102. https://doi.org/10.2344/0003-3006-59.2.90
Boccatonda, A., Frisone, A., Lorusso, F., Bugea, C., Di Carmine, M., Schiavone, C., ... & Guagnano, M. T. (2023). Perioperative management of antithrombotic therapy in patients who undergo dental procedures: a systematic review of the literature and network meta-analysis. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(7), 5293. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20075293
Bogari, D. F. (2019). Dentists' knowledge and behavior toward managing hypertensive patients. Nigerian journal of clinical practice, 22(2), 154-161. DOI: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_493_18
Care, D. (2021). 15. Diabetes Care in the Hospital: Standards of Medical Care in. Diabetes Care, 44, S211.
Dershewitz, S., Scully, C., & Dios, P. D. (2014). Dental treatment for patients with systemic disease: The need for communication. Oral Diseases, 20(5), 435-440.
Doble, A., Bescos, R., Witton, R., Shivji, S., Ayres, R., & Brookes, Z. (2023). A Case-Finding Protocol for High Cardiovascular Risk in a Primary Care Dental School—Model with Integrated Care. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6), 4959. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064959
Douketis, J. D., Spyropoulos, A. C., Spencer, F. A., Mayr, M., Jaffer, A. K., Eckman, M. H., ... & Kunz, R. (2012). Perioperative management of antithrombotic therapy: antithrombotic therapy and prevention of thrombosis: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Chest, 141(2), e326S-e350S. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.11-2298
Douketis, J. D., Spyropoulos, A. C., Murad, M. H., Arcelus, J. I., Dager, W. E., Dunn, A. S., ... & Moores, L. K. (2022). Executive summary: perioperative management of antithrombotic therapy: an American College of Chest Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline. Chest, 162(5), 1127-1139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2022.08.004
Draznin, B., Aroda, V. R., Bakris, G., Benson, G., Brown, F. M., Freeman, R., ... & American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. (2022). 16. Diabetes care in the hospital: Standards of medical care in diabetes-2022. Diabetes Care, 45. DOI: 10.2337/dc22-S016
Ekinci, C., Karabork, M., Siriopol, D., Dincer, N., Covic, A., & Kanbay, M. (2018). Effects of volume overload and current techniques for the assessment of fluid status in patients with renal disease. Blood Purification, 46(1), 34-47. https://doi.org/10.1159/000487702
Fleisher, L. A., Fleischmann, K. E., Auerbach, A. D., Barnason, S. A., Beckman, J. A., Bozkurt, B., ... & Wijeysundera, D. N. (2014). 2014 ACC/AHA guideline on perioperative cardiovascular evaluation and management of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 64(22), e77-e137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2014.07.944
Guimaraes, C. C., Lopes, L. C., de Cássia Bergamaschi, C., Ramacciato, J. C., Silva, M. T., de Oliveira Araújo, J., ... & Motta, R. H. L. (2021). Local anaesthetics combined with vasoconstrictors in patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing dental procedures: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ open, 11(7), e044357. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044357
Glick, M. (2015). Burket's oral medicine. PMPH USA.
Glurich, I., Schwei, K. M., Lindberg, S., Shimpi, N., & Acharya, A. (2018). Integrating medical-dental care for diabetic patients: qualitative assessment of provider perspectives. Health promotion practice, 19(4), 531-541. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839917737752
Greenberg, B. L., & Glick, M. (2015). Medical screening/assessment in the dental office. The ADA Practical Guide to Patients with Medical Conditions, 465-484. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119121039.ch21
Herrick, K. R., Terrio, J. M., & Herrick, C. (2021). Medical clearance for common dental procedures. American family physician, 104(5), 476-483.
Johnston, S. (2016). An evidence summary of the management of the care of patients taking novel oral antiplatelet drugs undergoing dental surgery. The Journal of the American Dental Association, 147(4), 271-277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2015.11.007
Kaplovitch, E., & Dounaevskaia, V. (2019). Treatment in the dental practice of the patient receiving anticoagulation therapy. The Journal of the American Dental Association, 150(7), 602-608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2019.02.011
Little, J. W., Miller, C., & Rhodus, N. L. (2017). Dental Management of the medically compromised Patient-E-Book: Dental Management of the medically compromised patient-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Lockhart, P. B., Brennan, M. T., Sasser, H. C., Fox, P. C., Paster, B. J., & Bahrani-Mougeot, F. K. (2008). Bacteremia associated with toothbrushing and dental extraction. Circulation, 117(24), 3118-3125. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.758524
Malamed, S. F. (2022). Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office E-Book: Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Nematullah, A., Alabousi, A., Blanas, N., Douketis, J. D., & Sutherland, S. E. (2009). Dental surgery for patients on anticoagulant therapy with warfarin: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet].
Nono, D., Mapley, E., Rwenyonyi, C. M., & Okullo, I. (2022). Assessment of the informed consent process in the provision of dental care in Mulago hospital, Uganda. BMC Oral Health, 22(1), 501. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-022-02550-2
Northridge, M. E., Birenz, S., Gomes, D. M., Golembeski, C. A., Greenblatt, A. P., Shelley, D., & Russell, S. L. (2016). Views of dental providers on primary care coordination at chairside: a pilot study. American Dental Hygienists' Association, 90(3), 170-180.
Oyetola, E. O., Adesina, O. M., Ogunbameru, K., Egunjobi, S., & Adejobi, A. F. (2020). Distribution of medical conditions among dental patients. Nigerian Medical Journal, 61(3), 129-135. Retrieved from https://www.ajol.info/index.php/nmj/article/view/225556
Poudel, P., Griffiths, R., Wong, V. W., Arora, A., Flack, J. R., Khoo, C. L., & George, A. (2018). Oral health knowledge, attitudes and care practices of people with diabetes: a systematic review. BMC public health, 18(1), 577. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5485-7
Raju, K., Thakur, Y. B., Garell, C., & Hilton, I. V. (2022). Medical-Dental Integration: A Promising Approach To Address Unmet Dental Needs of Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs. Journal of the California Dental Association, 50(6), 331-343. https://doi.org/10.1080/19424396.2022.12220721
Renton, T., Woolcombe, S., Taylor, T., & Hill, C. M. (2013). Oral surgery: part 1. Introduction and the management of the medically compromised patient. British dental journal, 215(5), 213-223. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2013.830
Sáez-Alcaide, L. M., Sola-Martín, C., Molinero-Mourelle, P., Paredes-Rodríguez, V., Zarrias-Caballero, C., & Hernández-Vallejo, G. (2017). Dental management in patients with antiplatelet therapy: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry, 9(8), e1044. https://doi.org/10.4317/jced.54079
Seminario-Amez, M., González-Navarro, B., Ayuso-Montero, R., Jané-Salas, E., & López-López, J. (2021). Use of local anesthetics with a vasoconstrictor agent during dental treatment in hypertensive and coronary disease patients. A systematic review. Journal of Evidence Based Dental Practice, 21(2), 101569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebdp.2021.101569
Sollecito, T. P., Abt, E., Lockhart, P. B., Truelove, E., Paumier, T. M., Tracy, S. L., ... & Frantsve-Hawley, J. (2015). The use of prophylactic antibiotics prior to dental procedures in patients with prosthetic joints: evidence-based clinical practice guideline for dental practitioners—a report of the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs. The Journal of the American Dental Association, 146(1), 11-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2014.11.012
Tomaselli, G. F., Mahaffey, K. W., Cuker, A., Dobesh, P. P., Doherty, J. U., Eikelboom, J. W., ... & Wiggins, B. S. (2020). 2020 ACC expert consensus decision pathway on management of bleeding in patients on oral anticoagulants: a report of the American College of Cardiology Solution Set Oversight Committee. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 76(5), 594-622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2020.04.053
Villa, A., Stock, S., Aboalela, A., Lerman, M. A., Woo, S. B., Sonis, S. T., & Treister, N. S. (2015). Oral Medicine referrals at a hospital-based practice in the United States. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, 119(4), 423-429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oooo.2015.01.003
Wakabayashi, H. (2019). Medical‐dental collaboration in general and family medicine. Journal of General and Family Medicine, 20(2), 47. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgf2.237
Zulfiqar, R., Naser, M., Ijaz, H., Saloom, W. N., Suleman, S., Hussain, S. S., & Akinbode, A. O. (2023). A Cross-Sectional Study of Green Behaviors: Current Usage and Perceived Barriers among Worldwide Dental Care Practitioners. Zhonghua er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi= Chinese journal of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery, 54, 1265-1272.
Authors
Copyright (c) 2024 Mohammad Sulaiman Alnumair, Omar Fahad Saleh Alfallaj, Mohammed Abdullah Qasem, Salha Hassan Ibrahim Muslih, Muath Adel Ali Bajjah, Manal Hamdan Mohammed Alharbi, Abeer Falah Obaidullah Alreashidi, Somaya Falah Obaidallah Alreashidi, Abdulaziz Sulaiman Alnumair, Fatimah Buayjan Saad Alotaibi, Abdullah Turki Dhair Almutairi, Mona Abdulrahman Mohammed Aljuaid

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
