A pacemaker is a medical device which uses electrical impulses to regulate the beating of the heart. The primary purpose of a pacemaker is to maintain an adequate heart rate, either because the heart's native pacemaker is not fast enough, or there is a block in the heart's electrical conduction system.

As it is for most heart disease cases, it’s very important to inform the dentist if a patient has a pacemaker because all dental electromagnetic devices should be avoided. More thorough dental treatments should be postponed several weeks after surgery. If an emergency dental procedure must be conducted, the dentist or the physician may prescribe pre-treatment antibiotics.