Every so often, there comes a medical advancement that utterly changes the lives of those who can benefit from it. Organ transplants are one such example. Before the first successful organ transplant, those who were experiencing organ failure were faced with the prospect of a slow and often painful degrading of their health. The introduction of organ transplants has changed all that, but even this miracle treatment comes with its complications. First and foremost is the need to undergo persistent immunosuppressive therapy to prevent the organ from being rejected. As these treatments impact the immune system throughout the body, maintaining oral health becomes more important than ever. Desert Pearl Dentistry is here to help you prepare for your transplant by restoring optimal oral health for our patients.
How Organ Transplants Make Oral Health Critical To Overall Health
Our bodies tend to be very good at recognizing anything that doesn’t belong in them and doing their best to remove it. When our body recognizes something like this, the immune system attacks it. As a result, immunosuppressive therapy is essential to maintaining the health of the transplanted organ. However, making the body less likely to attack the transplanted organ, our body is also more vulnerable to disease and infection. While we may not think of it this way often, tooth decay is caused by bacteria in our mouths attacking the enamel and structures of the teeth. Gum disease is an infection caused by the same bacteria as tooth decay, called Streptococcus mutans.
Ongoing studies have revealed that those who have poor oral health prior to an organ transplant surgery tend to have lower success rates afterward. Further, those who have untreated gum disease and dental decay experience a greater number of complications even long after the procedure is complete and healed. This makes taking steps to get your oral health in check essential both before and after the transplant is complete. Desert Pearl Dentistry provides two treatment approaches that are excellent parts of maintaining your oral health:
- Dental Cleaning – Everyone must see their dentist at least twice a year. Those with complex dental cases, such as transplant patients, benefit from seeing us more often. Our professional dental cleaning services go beyond what can be achieved at home with standard hygiene practices. Any plaque and tartar that was missed or in hard-to-reach areas is removed, and the surface of your teeth is polished to discourage the regrowth of bacteria.
- Restoration Dentistry – Chips, cracks, and cavities all represent weaknesses in the structure of your teeth. These weaknesses serve as points where bacteria can get inside the tooth and cause them to become infected. Dental restoration techniques such as fillings, inlays, onlays, and veneers can help address these imperfections and protect them from bacterial invasion.
See Desert Pearl Dentistry For Optimal Oral Health
If you’re preparing for an organ transplant and want to ensure that your oral health isn’t risking the success of the procedure, contact us at (760) 568-0130 or stop by our clinic in Rancho Mirage, CA. We’ll introduce you to the team, give you a tour of the office, and schedule your first visit!
