Heart transplantation is recognized as the standard therapy for end-stage heart failure in Europe and America. The 1-year survival rate for recipients is 80%, and the 5-years survival rate was 70%. In particular, heart transplantation is necessary for the survival of a severe pediatric cardiomyopathy patient. Since there are many children with severe cardiomyopathy in Japan, the prevalence of heart transplantation will increase in the near future.
We studied 10 pediatric patients after heart transplantation aged 3 to 15 years for whom dental examination and treatment were requested by the Department of Internal Medicine at our center. Sixteen decayed teeth were found in 6 patients, 2 teeth with apical periodontitis in 2, 30 teeth with gingival enlargement in 2, 3 teeth with hypodontia in 2, 1 fused tooth in 1, 2 microdonts in 1, 1 impacted tooth in 1, and mobility of a deciduous tooth in 1. All patients received an explanation of tooth brushing technique. Eight teeth were extracted in 2 patients before heart transplantation, and 2 teeth were extracted in 2 patients after heart transplantation. Dental calculi were removed from 6 teeth in one patient.
We report the details of these oral lesions and appropriate dental procedures for children with heart transplants and describe ontimal antibiotic treatment.
