Intraoral Infection and Oral Health in the Surgical Patient: Need for Concern During the Perioperative Period?

A patient's intraoral health condition is not typically a chief perioperative concern of surgical health care providers and preoperative dental evaluation/therapy is often left unattended prior to elective surgery. Consequently, patients for surgery may possess untreated dental caries, intraoral infection(s), and/or periodontal disease. Individuals who have not had a dental evaluation or examination for the previous several years may be harboring a quiescent and potent oral infection. Deleterious effects of an intraoral infection may not only compromise surgical outcome, but lead to an increased need for additional interventional therapy(s) along with associated expenses. This article will review known connection(s) between oral health, systemic disease, and treatment concerns for bacterial endocarditis. Some of the barriers that exist with improving oral health prior to surgical procedures will also be examined. Augmenting recognition of perioperative dental considerations may result in interventional measures that can minimize use of additional healthcare related resources and optimize patient care.