Sir, I read with interest the paper by G. Allen and A. Brooke regarding devising a pro forma for dental screening of patients prior to invasive cardiac surgery.1 From this, a two-cycle audit was carried out looking at whether there were similar issues with referrals to our oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) department here in the Southwest. The initial findings showed that only 20% of referrals included crucial information which would help inform our decision-making and treatment planning; eg medical history, drug history, social history, dental history and patient mobility. Following this, a pro forma was created, incorporating elements of the pro forma devised by G. Allen and A. Brooke and upon reaudit, the findings showed a 90% compliance with the information required.1

Patients having certain types of invasive cardiac surgery are potentially at higher risk of developing infective endocarditis from dental pathology or invasive dental treatment; therefore, it is essential that they are screened in a timely manner.2,3 I would encourage other units to adopt a similar screening pro forma in order to facilitate effective patient flow and reduce any delays in patient treatment. This also allows other medical teams to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary manner to reduce post-operative complications, optimise treatment plans and establish a coordinated approach that benefits the patients' overall dental and systemic health.