Patients with new livers to get tooth care

LIVER transplant patients will receive special dental care after their operations under a scheme to be launched by NHS Lothian.

The patients will receive dental assessments before and after their transplants and advice on how to avoid problems with their teeth.

Patients from the Lothians needing dental treatment that can't be provided by their local dentist will have their dental care co-ordinated through the dental unit at the city's Royal Infirmary.

Transplant patients are at risk of developing oral problems. The three-year initiative is being funded by the Scottish Government.

Dr Colwyn Jones, a consultant in dental public health for NHS Lothian, said: "NHS Lothian is committed to improving the dental health of everyone who lives in Lothian, and this funding will allow us to provide valuable help to people we know are at risk of subsequent problems with their teeth.

"Transplants are becoming more common and recipients of transplants have to be very careful around their health in general. We have to guard against infection as transplant patients are immuno-compromised."

The ERI is home to the Scottish liver transplant unit which conducts between 50 and 60 transplants a year.