[Can dental equipment interfere with correct functioning of an ICD?].

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is often placed in patients at high risk of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. An ICD is potentially sensitive to electromagnetic interference (EMI) from dental equipment. Between 2000 to 2020, this was investigated in 7 in vitro studies and 4 in vivo studies. Most dental equipment appears to be safe for routine use in patients with an ICD. However, caution seems appropriate with regard to the use of piezoelectic and magnetostrictive scalers as some can cause EMI up to a distance of 20 to 45 centimeter. Use of an electrotome appears to be contraindicated in ICD wearers.