The individual with a pacemaker in the dental environment.

A systematic examination of the potential hazards of electromagnetic interference with pacemakers in patients in the dental environment was carried out with the use of several pulse generators of three manufacturers. Only one model was affected by the dental operatory equipment tested. In two of three patients 2-second periods of asystole were noted: this was accompanied by symptoms in one. Permanent pacemakers implanted in three dogs were unaffected by short or sustained stimulation with pulp vitality testers. A permanent pacemaker implanted in one dog was unaffected by short or sustained stimulation with an ultrasonic cleaner. Reliance on severe symptoms alone is a poor method of assessing interference in the clinical situation. Guidelines for protection of the patient wearing a pacemaker in the dental environment are given.