Free dental checkups and treatments for patients awaiting organ transplants, transplant recipients, and dialysis patients, provided by the specialists in the Department of Dentistry at the Cagliari University Hospital. The project, funded by the Sardinia Region, dedicated to these vulnerable groups, has restarted.
"Without substantial oral health," explains Professor Elisabetta Cotti, Director of Dentistry at the Duilio Casula Hospital, coordinator and scientific director of the project, "transplants cannot be performed, and without proper care, they can subsequently be put at risk. The presence of intact teeth or those that have undergone necessary treatments is closely linked to an individual's longevity and overall health." Dental care will be provided free of charge at the Duilio Casula Hospital and the San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, without the need for a medical prescription. To schedule an appointment or request information, please call 07051092285 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
The treatment options available within the project are numerous: professional oral hygiene treatments , conservative therapies such as fillings and root canal treatments that, in one or more sessions, cleanse the mouth by eliminating potential infection areas, and surgical treatments such as extractions of teeth that cannot be salvaged. Dentures, however, are not included. Depending on the health of the oral soft tissues, gums, and mucous membranes, a periodontal examination may be performed to assess the presence of periodontal recession and/or pockets, which can cause oral and systemic infections, especially cardiac infections. All patients will be guaranteed follow-up for at least two years after the end of treatment.
To ensure priority for those who need transplants soon, patients awaiting a transplant must present a certificate from the Transplant Center certifying the urgency of the dental visit. All patients, whether transplant recipients, awaiting a transplant, or receiving dialysis, must present a certificate from their primary care physician certifying their state of health at the time of the visit, any current and previous medical conditions, current and past medications, and any contraindications to dental treatments. Additionally, a panoramic x-ray of the dental arches taken no later than one month prior to the visit is required. If necessary, a Cone Beam CT scan may be requested to evaluate the dental structures in 3D.
