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April is Organ Donor Awareness Month. Twenty-five thousand organ transplants are performed in the US annually. Drugs like immunosuppressants and anti-rejection medications are prescribed to promote acceptance of transplanted organs. These drugs compromise a patient’s immune system. Good oral health, as we know, contributes to overall health and a strong immune system. Therefore, for organ transplant patients, oral health should be a primary concern prior to and following surgery.

In children, particularly, poor oral health and oral health problems (caries, gum disease, hypoplasia or hypomineralization) and/or improper tooth development can be a factor in organ rejection. A recent article at MedicalNewsToday.com states, “Ultimately, prevention holds the key to a successful transplantation.” The article reviews ways parents of medically compromised children can work toward optimal oral health for successful organ transplants.