Medically Compromised - Cardiovascular Diseases in Pediatric Dentistry

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The heart is the key organ of the cardiovascular system - the body's transport system for blood. Heart disease is difficult enough when it strikes adults, but it can be especially tragic in children. They include Congenital Heart Disease, infections that affect the heart, and even heart disease acquired later in childhood due to illnesses like Rheumatic Heart Disease. Early dental health problems and Dental caries prevalence are higher in children with CHD compared with healthy children. Lower frequencies of regular dental care have been also displayed in children with CHD. Knowledge of parental attitudes and experiences of dental care plays a key role in providing an early preventive dental care to the special needs of children with CHD in their first years of life. Public health practitioners and health care providers can implement strategies (e.g., parent and patient education and collaboration between pediatricians, dentists, and cardiologists) to improve oral health and care among children with heart conditions, especially those with fewer resources and intellectual or developmental disabilities.