Lockhart PB, DeLong HR, Lipman RD, et al. - In this systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers determined the potential impact of dental treatment before cardiac valve surgery (CVS) or left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation on morbidity and mortality. They incorporated relevant studies published between 1998 and 2019 from MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, including randomized controlled trials and cohort studies, involving adults receiving dental treatment prior to CVS or LVAD implantation. Six studies met CVS inclusion criteria, but not LVAD implantation criteria. Postoperative results included all-cause mortality, infective endocarditis, postoperative infection, and hospital length of stay. It is not clear from the available evidence whether postoperative outcomes differ in patients receiving dental treatment prior to CVS vs outcomes in those who do not. For each patient, dentists and medical professionals should work together on an appropriate course of action, weighing any potentially relevant care considerations.