Heart

[keystonequeen]

As a senior citizen I am embarrised about my poor dental care and the fact that I have a mitral valve that stayed wide open about 15 years ago. So far everything is fine. I do worry about the relationship between poor dential care and how it can cause problems with the heart. If I would have an opening somewhere in the heart or a valve it could cause serious problems. All this relates to the fact that I had a bad experience with all the staff including the dentist about 8 years ago. I had three root canals done, one cap stayed on even though it was never at the right level. Ten days after my root canal I could not chew a soft shrimp because I had pain from the root area. Pain like a cavity/nerve pain. The staff told me I was immagining the pain because the root was removed and would not let me talk to the dentist. This dentist had  dental students doing most of the dental work. The dentist never came back into the room to check the work that was done by the student. I have never been back to a dentist again. My biggest concern is heart problems in the future.

[cindy707]

I think you should relax here a lilttle bit and definately find a new dental office to go to.  The is a direct link between the teeth and mouth to the heart that is why alot of us are premedicated prior to dental care being done as a safeguard.  However all of these years later as long as you dont have abscess' going on or infections your prior work that was done shouldn't have an impact on you now unles you are still having issues with your teeth.  The only thing that could be associated with this would be if that during the dental work you did get an infection that hit the valve and was left untreated it could have done some damage to the valve but i am sure you would know that by now for sure.  Have mitral valve prolapse myself and just so you know over 30% of the population has it believe it or not i just take a few precautions as i walk thru life.  Each nite after i brush my teeth i swish warm salt water around in my mouth and then spit it out to try to keep my mouth as clean as possible so that bacteria doesn't build up in my mouth but don't do this isf you have high blood pressure because it can raise your blood pressure.  If it were me i really wouldn't worry too much this far into the game tho....if you were to have had issues trust me they would have happened during or shortly after you had all of the work done not fifteen years later.  Just practice good oral hygiene to ward off anything happning and have a happy thanksgiving.....

[kenkeith]

Thanks for your question, but you may be better served if you post a question to the following link.  http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Dental-Health/show/42