1. BEHAVIOUR ASPECTS OF ORAL HYGIENE IN CARDIOVASCULAR PATIENTS

Aim: The study had the objective to determine the level of knowledge and attitude towards oral hygiene in a group of patients with different cardiovascular illnesses. Methods: A group of 150 patients aged 62.32 (10.41) with different cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, coronary heart disease, chronic cardiac insufficiency) was included in the study. They answered to a questionnaire about oral hygiene and its importance for general health. Results: Once daily dental brushing is performed by 44% of patients, while 24% of them never brushed. Only 24% patients from the group reported professional education about dental brushing. Regarding last dental visit, 28% patients presented to the dentist five years ago, 24% patients were to the dentist 10 years ago and 16% patients have never done dental check-ups. Only 24% patients from the group presented to the dentist in the last year, but for emergency dental care and also only 8% patients have done preventive dental visits. Although 96% patients from the group have never been scaled, only 60% from them have complained about gingival bleeding. From these, 40% have made some correlation between inaccurate dental brushing and gingival bleeding. Only 40% patients from the group considered that oral hygiene and cardiovascular illness could have been related, and 28% patients could not have made a connection between the general health status and oral hygiene. Conclusions: There is an important need for a better collaboration between the cardiologist, the family doctor and the dentist in order to make the patients fully aware of the impact of oral health on general health status, underlining preventive dental control importance in oral and general health.