From Volume 49, Issue 10, November 2022 | Pages 795-802
This article considers the clinical implications of cardiomyopathy and how it impacts on the provision of oral care. Consideration is given to the management of pain and anxiety in this patient group and the provision of safe, effective care.
CPD/Clinical Relevance: With an increasingly ageing population, dentists should have the knowledge to safely assess and treat medically compromised patients.
The cardiomyopathies are a diverse group of conditions that affect the shape, structure, and/or thickness of the heart muscle (the myocardium).1 They may affect anyone, at any age, with a current UK prevalence of approximately 1 in 500 people.2 The cause can be primary, with a genetic aetiology, or secondary to autoimmune, inflammatory, endocrine, neurological or infiltrative conditions.1,3 The prevalence of cardiomyopathy is rising, and those who are diagnosed are surviving longer. They are therefore more likely to present to the dental team.
Dental practitioners should have a basic awareness of the condition and know what questions to ask before treating or referring these patients onwards. Careful assessment is required to plan the use of local anaesthesia and sedation techniques.
There are five main types of cardiomyopathy and each affects the myocardium differently.
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