Dental Care For ICU Patients Lowers Infection Risk

At Dennis J Coleman DDS – Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we’d like to focus on an article that appeared in ScienceDaily.com. The article describes a study of Brazilian ICU patients that compared infection rates of those who received enhanced oral care instead of routine oral care. The patients who received the more intense dental care were 56 percent less likely to develop a respiratory infection during their stay.

“Bacteria causing healthcare-associated infections often start in the oral cavity,” said Fernando Bellissimo-Rodrigues, MD, lead author of the study. “This study suggests that having a dentist provide weekly care as part the ICU team may improve outcomes for vulnerable patients in this setting.”¹

If a member of your family has serious health issues, you may want to talk to their doctor about the oral health implications of their condition. In unfortunate cases where one of my patients experiences severe health issues, I am happy to work with their medical team to ensure that their dental health is not compromised. Even some managable chronic conditions can require more frequent exams and cleanings.

Though this study pertains to ICU patients, it is also a reminder to all of us. Receiving consistent quality dental care and practicing proper daily oral hygiene is critical for everyone.

We see ourselves as key members of your healthcare team and are dedicated to your physical, mental, and emotional health. You can get treatment for the whole family all in one convenient location at Dennis J. Coleman DDS – Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, in Davidson. Helping our dental patients maintain ideal dental health is important for me, and so is helping them achieve the smile they want through cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers, teeth whitening and complete smile makeovers.

 

Contact Dennis J Coleman DDS – Family & Cosmetic Dentistry:

704-896-5850

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

460 S Main St Ste 101
Davidson, North Carolina
28036