Do I need to remove dentures at night?

Electrocardiography is a relatively inexpensive but valuable method of electrophysiological instrumental diagnostics in cardiology.

ECG is a technique for recording and studying the electric fields generated during the work of the heart. Electrocardiography is a relatively inexpensive but valuable method of electrophysiological instrumental diagnostics in cardiology.

The direct result of electrocardiography is an electrocardiogram (ECG), a graphical representation of the heart's function.

Application of ECG:

• the presence of acute or chronic myocardial damage (myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia).
• determination of the frequency and regularity of heart contractions (pulse).
• detection of intracardiac conduction disorders (various blockades).
• screening method for coronary heart disease, including stress tests.
• gives an idea of ​​the physical condition of the heart (left ventricular hypertrophy).
• may provide information about non-cardiac diseases such as pulmonary embolism.
• must be used when undergoing medical examination.

Indications for ECG

For preventive purposes, it is recommended to do an ECG once a year. This allows dynamic monitoring of changes in the functioning of the cardiovascular system. It is especially important to track newly emerging changes on the ECG when changing lifestyle, increasing psycho-emotional stress, playing sports or fitness, deteriorating general health, or after suffering from somatic or infectious diseases. Mandatory indications for an ECG are heart disease and a high risk for the following diseases and risk factors:

• hypertonic disease;
• men and women over 40 years of age;
• pregnancy;
• smoking, drinking alcohol;
• hypercholesterolemia;
• past infections.

Complete dentures: should they be removed or not?

There is no strict requirement to remove a full-type removable orthopedic system at night. It may well remain in the mouth during sleep. But in some situations it is better to remove it to prevent:

• neurosis, in the presence of fear that you might choke on a displaced prosthesis in your sleep or swallow it;
• overheating of the gums, which have been under plastic that does not conduct heat well for a long time, and its contamination with pathogenic microorganisms;
• continuous pressure on the mucous membranes, which worsens their condition.

Considering the above, many dentists do not recommend wearing complete removable dentures around the clock, especially if hygiene procedures are performed poorly and irregularly.

How is an ECG performed?

The examination is carried out in the supine position. To conduct the examination, you will be asked to remove clothing above the waist and expose your lower legs. To make the procedure more comfortable, wear comfortable clothing that can be quickly removed or unbuttoned at the chest. The places where the electrodes will be attached will be treated with alcohol and a special gel will be applied. Then, ten electrodes will be attached to the arms, legs and chest using cuffs and suction cups, which monitor the rhythm of contractions of the heart muscle. All you have to do is lie quietly for a couple of minutes and wait for permission from the doctor to get up.

ECG technique

The patient lies down on the couch, exposing the legs, forearms and upper body. The nurse degreases the areas of skin on which the electrodes will be applied by wiping them with a cloth soaked in an isotonic sodium chloride solution. The surface of the electrodes is also degreased, and a gel is applied to it or to the skin to improve electrical conductivity.

The electrodes are fixed on the patient's body in a certain order. A red electrode is applied to the right hand, and a yellow one to the left. A black electrode is intended for the right leg, and a green one for the left. 6 electrodes are applied to the chest in certain positions (V1 - red, V2 - yellow, V3 - green, V4 - brown, V5 - black, V6 - blue) or one electrode is sequentially moved to different points.

Preparing for electrocardiography

Our center’s specialists advise you to approach this procedure responsibly, despite the simplicity of its implementation.

• Electrocardiography allows you to evaluate the work of the heart muscle under normal conditions. This means that you should not feel nervous or tired during the test. Therefore, before the ECG you need to get a good night's sleep and avoid physical activity in the morning;
• You should also not overload your stomach. It is best to do an ECG on an empty stomach. If the procedure is performed after lunch, eat a light breakfast, but no later than two hours before the procedure. On the day of the procedure, you need to reduce your fluid intake, since its excess in the body can affect the functioning of the heart muscle;
• It is advisable not to drink coffee, strong teas or energy drinks on the day of the procedure. Caffeine stimulates increased cardiac activity, therefore, ECG results will be biased;
• In the morning before the procedure, take a shower, but avoid using fatty and oily lotions and creams. These substances create a thin film that impairs the contact of the electrodes with the skin;
• 15-20 minutes before the procedure, you need to sit quietly, relax and restore your breathing.

GBUZ JSC "Krasnoborskaya Central District Hospital"

It is recommended to take a shower, because... After installing the electrodes, you will not be able to take water procedures for 24 hours.

For men, remove (if necessary) hair from the front of the chest.

Rules for wearing a halter:

Not recommended:

- Wet - take a bath, shower with it, swim in open water

— Expose the holter to low and high temperatures (for example, do not go to the bathhouse on the day of the test)

— The device must be protected from shock and vibration. It is advisable to avoid contact with aggressive household chemicals, especially those containing acids, during Holter monitoring.

- In addition, heavy, long-term physical activity is very undesirable, since, firstly, it can distort the results of the study, and secondly, due to increased sweat, the electrodes can come off

— It is not recommended to be near transformer booths or powerful power lines. And also come close to working electrical household and medical equipment

— During sleep, you should avoid turning on your stomach, as this may displace the electrodes or interfere with data recording.

— During monitoring, you should not wear metal jewelry, clothing with metal buttons, or a bra with metal clasps, as they may interfere with the ECG results.

Recommended:

— During the examination, it is better to give preference to cotton underwear and avoid wearing clothes made of synthetic and silk fabrics, which can accumulate static electricity.

— A diary is issued in which the patient notes his state of health, complaints, type of activity, physical activity, medication intake, time of wakefulness and sleep. And does a ladder test (according to indications)

— Exactly in time, complaints are noted in connection with which monitoring and other subjective sensations are carried out: weakness, dizziness, chest tightness, suffocation, palpitations, malaise, pain in the heart area, or pain in another location. You are asked to indicate the nature of the pain ( dull, pressing, stabbing, squeezing, etc.), as well as its duration. It should be indicated under what circumstances the pain arose (after physical or emotional stress, at rest, etc.) and went away (stopping while walking, after taking medication). Indicate the time of administration and the name of medications.

— Many drugs that the patient takes can change the normal activity of the heart. Therefore, if your doctor prescribes Holter monitoring for you, indicate what medications you are currently taking.

— If you accidentally disconnect a wire or electrode, the light on the device will light up. If you cannot replace the electrode yourself, contact medical personnel.

— After the end of the monitoring period, you return to the functional diagnostics room, the staff removes the device from you.

Anesthesia

The procedure is absolutely painless and the patient does not need pain relief.

How often can you do an ECG and is it harmful?

Currently, an ECG is included in the list of mandatory (screening) studies when visiting a doctor, both in a clinic and in a hospital. Patients with heart disease can encounter an ECG after the first visit to a therapist (cardiologist), when calling an ambulance, or during an examination in a hospital.

Patients are advised to periodically take an ECG to assess the success of treatment and disease progression. The results should be kept in your documents so that the doctor can assess the dynamics of the disease at any time.

This examination is harmless to your body and is a good method for early diagnosis of the disease.

Why did dentures always have to be removed at night?

About 30–40 years ago, rubber was mainly used to produce removable “teeth.” This material had a peculiarity - a tendency to dry out and crack. To counteract this, the prosthesis had to be placed in water overnight.

Modern removable orthopedic structures are not made of rubber. For these purposes, more functional and durable materials are used, such as:

• acrylic plastic;
• dental nylon;
• thermoplastic polymers;
• metal alloys.

Such products do not require moisture, so there is no need to put them in a glass of water. But is it necessary to remove dentures at night or is this also optional? The answer to this question depends on what type of construction the patient wears and whether he has concomitant dental pathologies.

Difference between Holter ECG and ECG

The electrocardiography method is an informative and accessible diagnostic tool, which, however, has certain weaknesses. This is, first of all, the short duration of the recording. In the case of studying the condition of patients with arrhythmia, the latter may simply not appear in a specific period of time (a standard ECG lasts several seconds).

In addition, an ECG is taken while the patient is at rest, and not during normal life activities. Accordingly, a large segment of information about the patient’s heart function “outside a medical institution” is lost.

It was precisely to expand the diagnostic capabilities of electrocardiography that a method of long-term recording, taking 24 hours, was proposed - Holter monitoring.

Decoding Holter

After removing the device, the data is entered into a computer - a decoder.

Recording is carried out over several channels (from 2 to 12). The MedicCity clinic uses a 12-channel device, as it provides maximum accurate information.

The data obtained using a 12-channel Holter monitor reports the type and frequency of the heart rhythm; the presence of cardiac rhythm and conduction disturbances and their frequency; number of ventricular complexes; type and quantity of pathological complexes; fluctuations in heart rate, etc.

When deciphering the results, the doctor must check and correct the information transmitted by the device, checking the digital information with the graphs and with the observation diary kept by the patient.

The conclusion, which is written by a functional diagnostics doctor or a cardiologist directly, must include the following information:

• about rhythm and heart rate;
• about the presence and type of arrhythmia;
• about the presence and type of blockade;
• about pauses in cardiac work;
• about the source of impulses in the myocardium;
• about changes in cardiac intervals;
• segment violations;
• about the connection of detected violations with the patient’s activity and complaints;
• about the operation of the pacemaker (if any).

After reviewing the results of ECG monitoring, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment.

Holter monitoring at MedicCity

Today, making a halter in Moscow is not at all difficult. The main thing is to find a medical institution and doctors whose professionalism is beyond doubt. The level of diagnostic equipment is also important.

The MedicCity clinic uses a 12-channel device, as it provides maximum accurate information.

You can find out the cost of Holter and other studies (ECG, bicycle ergometry, ECHO-CG, ABPM) in our clinic by phone.

MedicCity cardiologists are doctors with many years of experience and serious scientific training. Reviews about our specialists will undoubtedly strengthen your confidence that the health of your heart is in good hands!