Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional cohort study was to evaluate a comprehensive dental examination and referral concept for patients prior to endoprosthesis (EP) implantation in an interdisciplinary setting.
Methods: Patients, who were prepared for EP surgery in the clinic for orthopaedics, were referred to the dental clinic for a dental examination. Thereby, dental and periodontal treatment need, radiographic and temporomandibular joint findings were assessed. Based on oral and radiographic investigation, a risk classification for potential source of prosthetic infection was performed. If potential oral foci of EP infection were present (e.g., apically radiolucent teeth, severe periodontitis or additional inflammatory findings), patients were classified as at high risk for EP infection with oral origin. Those individuals were allocated to their family dentist or special clinic for dental treatment prior to EP surgery.
Results: A total of 311 patients were included (mean age: 67.84 ± 10.96 years, 51% male). A dental treatment need of 33% was found, while the periodontal treatment need was 83%. Thirty-one percent of patients showed at least one apical radiolucency (a sign of chronic infection/inflammation). Furthermore, additional findings such as radiographic signs of sinusitis maxillaris were found in 24% of patients. Temporomandibular disease was probable in 17% of individuals. One-third (34%) were assigned to the high risk group for an EP infection with oral origin.
Conclusion: German patients before EP have a high periodontal treatment need and show frequently (34%) a potential oral focus of infection, underlining the necessity of including dental examination and risk stratification as part of the pre-operative assessment prior to EP implantation. Therefore, an approach as applied in this study appears reasonable for those individuals.
Keywords: dental care; joint replacement; oral focus; periodontitis; prevention.