Invasive dental treatments cause a temporary spike in heart attacks and strokes

Many studies have documented the link between dental pathologies such as periodontal disease and the inflammation of cardiovascular disease, validating the cardiovascular benefit of having such dental problems taken care of. But should precautions be taken for the effect of 'stirring up' inflammation by a dental procedure in the short term? The scientists who conducted research just published in the Annals of Internal Medicine state:

"Treatment of periodontal disease may reduce cardiovascular risk in the longer term, but studies have suggested a link among dental procedures, acute inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. However, whether such acute inflammatory effects translate into a short-lived increased risk for vascular events is not known."

So their objective was...

"To investigate whether invasive dental treatment transiently increases the risk for vascular events."

They examined data for 650 people who suffered a stroke and 525 people who had a heart attack who had also undergone invasive dental treatment to determine how closely they were linked (how often the stroke or heart attack occurred shortly after the dental treatment compared to other times). What did their data show?

"The rate of vascular events significantly increased in the first 4 weeks after invasive dental treatment and gradually returned to the baseline rate within 6 months. The positive association remained after exclusion of persons with diabetes, hypertension, or coronary artery disease or persons with prescriptions for antiplatelet or salicylate drugs before treatment."

It is reasonable to expect that underlying inflammation can flare up when there is a sudden increase in immune system exposure to microbes and debris stirred by a dental procedure that disrupts tissue. Rather than imply that important dental treatment should be deferred, it suggests that someone planning to undergo invasive dental therapy should have a well considered anti-inflammatory strategy in accordance with their individual needs.