Question

Applying heat to an abscessed tooth may increase a patient's risk for infection due to the possibility of rupture, but it will not necessarily increase the risk for burns. Because very young patients have thin skin, they are at an increased risk for burns during heat therapy. Because areas of edema and peripheral vascular disease both cause a patient to have decreased sensory perception, patients with these conditions are also at an increased risk for burns during heat therapy.

a) Heat therapy increases the risk of infection in an abscessed tooth.
b) Young patients are less prone to burns during heat therapy.
c) Edema decreases the risk of burns during heat therapy.
d) Heat therapy does not affect patients with peripheral vascular disease.

Answer 1

Heat therapy can increase the risk of infection in an abscessed tooth, young patients are more prone to burns during heat therapy, and patients with peripheral vascular disease are at an increased risk of burns during heat therapy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Heat therapy does have the potential to increase the risk of infection in an abscessed tooth. This is because applying heat to the tooth can cause the abscess to rupture, which can introduce more bacteria into the bloodstream and increase the risk of infection.

Young patients are actually at an increased risk for burns during heat therapy. This is because young patients have thinner skin, which can be more easily damaged by heat.

Edema, which is swelling caused by fluid accumulation, does not decrease the risk of burns during heat therapy. In fact, edema can impair the body's ability to dissipate heat, leading to an increased risk of burns.

Patients with peripheral vascular disease are also at an increased risk for burns during heat therapy. This is because the disease can impair blood flow, which can make it more difficult for the body to cool itself and increase the risk of burns.