Artificial Joint Patients

In January 2015, the American Dental Association's Council on Scientific Affairs issued a guideline, which discourages prophylactic antibiotic use for most patients with prosthetic joint implants. However, the use of antibiotics prior to dental treatment may still be recommended for select patients. Ask the dentist what is best for you.

Link to the American Dental Association Guidelines:

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/a/joint-replacement

Heart Patients

Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for a small number of people who have specific heart conditions. The American Heart Association has guidelines identifying people who should take antibiotics prior to dental care. According to these guidelines, antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered for people with:

• Artificial heart valves.
• A history of an infection of the lining of the heart or heart valves known as infective endocarditis, an uncommon but life-threatening infection.
• A heart transplant in which a problem develops with one of the valves inside the heart.
• Heart conditions that are present from birth, such as:
  • Unrepaired cyanotic congenital heart disease, including people with palliative shunts and conduit.
  • Defects repaired with a prosthetic material or device—whether placed by surgery or catheter intervention—during the first six months after repair.
  • Cases in which a heart defect has been repaired, but a residual defect remains at the site or adjacent to the site of the prosthetic patch or prosthetic device used for the repair.

Talk to the dentist about these guidelines if you have any questions about antibiotic prophylaxis.

Link to the American Dental Association Guidelines:

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/a/premedication-or-antibiotics

Source: American Dental Association