Relationship between Dental Procedures and Shunt Infections in Hydrocephalic Patients: A Narrative Review

Oral physicians frequently encounter medically compromised patients in their everyday practice and a sizable number of these patients are in urgent need of specialized care. One such medically specialized category is that of patients suffering from hydrocephalus. A large number of medical reports and citations in support of surgical care of the hydrocephalic disorder are available in literature. However, reports on dental studies offer contradictory statements on the relationship between hydrocephalic shunts and oral manoeuvres. The present narrative review aims to delineate the historical journey of the association between shunt infections and dental procedures, decode the existing controversies and provide updated information on antibiotic prophylaxis prior dental treatment for hydrocephalic patients.

Antibiotics, bacteremia, dental clinic, hydrocephalus, ventriculo-peritoneal

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