Oral assessment of the "risk" patient.

Certain patients may be considered as being at "risk" with respect to the possibility of development of significant diseases of either a local or a systemic nature as a direct result of the presence of oral infection. The problems relating to the development of bacteremia subsequent to surgery in the patient with cardiovascular disease are well appreciated. Thought should be given to the possibilities of such developments in relation to the presence of periapical pathosis. It is demonstrated that a definitive evaluation of the status of the nonvital tooth cannot be made by the presently accepted methods of clinical and radiographic examination.