Question: Are there any precautions to treating patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in the dental office?

Answer: Generally, persons with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can undergo routine dental procedures without difficulty. There are a few points of caution, however.

Some forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can predispose to fragile blood vessels and appropriate bleeding observations and precautions should be in place.

Furthermore, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type X in particular is associated with a heart valve abnormality, mitral valve prolapse. Ehlers-Danlos syndromes can overlap. The standard precautions regarding mitral valve prolapse condition are advised in these patients.

Serious forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can have poor tissue healing and difficulty with retaining sutures in place if oral surgery is needed.