For many years the American Heart Association has recommended that people who have certain types of heart conditions should take antibiotics before dental procedures. The purpose of this was to ensure that the patient would avoid infective endocarditis, an infection of the heart. previously known as bacterial endocarditis. . The AHA’s latest guidelines were published in its scientific journal, Circulation, in April 2007. The new guidelines indicate that most of the patients who needed to take antibiotics in the past no longer are required to take them. t
The guidelines are based on recent studies that indicate the risks of taking preventive antibiotics outweigh the benefits for most patients. The risks from these antibiotics range from mild to severe adverse reactions to in rare cases, death. Inappropriate use of antibiotics can also lead to the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
Researchers have found that there is no evidence that taking the antibiotics prior to a dental procedure will prevent infective endocarditis in patients at risk of developing a heart infection. These bacteria in the mouth are already able to enter their blood streams from brushing and flossing..The guidelines say patients who have taken prophylactic antibiotics routinely in the past but no longer need them include people with:

• mitral valve prolapse
• rheumatic heart disease
• bicuspid valve disease
• calcified aortic stenosis
• congenital heart conditions such as ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The new guidelines are aimed at patients who would have the greatest danger of a bad outcome if they developed a heart infection.
Preventive antibiotics prior to a dental procedure are advised for patients with:

• artificial heart valves
• a history of infective endocarditis
• certain specific, serious congenital (present from birth) heart conditions, including

• a cardiac transplant that develops a problem in a heart valve.

The new recommendations apply to many dental procedures, including teeth cleaning and extractions. Patients with congenital heart disease can have complicated circumstances. They should check with their cardiologist if there is any question at all as to the category that best fits their needs.(Source: ADA News)

One person dies every hour from oral cancer in the United States- and the mortality has remained unchanged for more than 40 years. Late detection of oral cancer is the primary cause that both the incidence and mortality rates of oral cancer continue to increase. As with most other cancers, age is the primary risk factor for oral cancer. 
Though tobacco use is a major predisposing risk factor, 27% of oral cancer victims have no lifestyle risk factors. According to the American Cancer Society, more women in the United States will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year (12,000 cases) than will be diagnosed with cervical cancer (<10.000 cases), and there are as many cases of oral cancer caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV 16/18), a sexually transmitted disease, as there are HPV-related cases of cervical cancer.

Clinical studies have determined that using VizLite Plus after the standard oral cancer examination improves the dental professional’s ability to identify and evaluate suspicious areas at their earliest stages. Early detection of pre-cancerous tissue can minimize or eliminate the potentially disfiguring effects of oral cancer and possibly save your life.
Proven screening technologies such as mammogram, Pap smear, PSA and colonoscopy offer the same type of early detection of cancer. ViziLite Plus is an easy and painless examination that gives your dentist the best chance to find any oral abnormalities you may have at the earliest possible stage.

Oral cancer risk by patient profile is listed below:

Increased Risk: Patients age 18-39, sexually active patients (HPV 16/18)
High Risk: Patients age 40 and older; tobacco users younger than age 40
Highest Risk: Patients age 40 and older and lifestyle risk factors (tobacco use); patients with a history of oral cancer.

Dental insurance might not cover this advanced oral cancer screening as an addition to the standard visual examination. Most dental offices will provide you with a medical insurance form for you to use to file this procedure with your medical insurance.

Don't wait until it is to late, talk to your dentist about this new screening test or visit www.viziltie.com.