Antibiotics Before Dental Procedures?

We are a caring, friendly team of dental professionals committed to providing a comfortable dental experience.
Patients with hip prostheses may have heard that it is advisable to take antibiotics prior to undergoing tooth cleaning, scaling, and other procedures to address the potential release of bacteria into the bloodstream caused by these treatments. For people with replacement joints, the concern is that bacteria in the bloodstream (“bacteremia”) could cause an infection by attaching to the artificial joint or surrounding tissues. However, such infections are quite rare. In fact, the American Dental Association recommends against the use of antibiotics prior to dental procedures with the sole intention of preventing infections in artificial joints. Exceptions to this recommendation involve patients who are very susceptible to infection or are having a procedure that carries a higher risk of bacteremia.

We are a caring, friendly team of dental professionals committed to providing a comfortable dental experience. This column has been brought to you by the office of Richard Seidler, D.D.S. - Family Dentistry in the interest of better dental health. We believe in an informed patient approach to achieving optimum dental health.

Did you know?
Pre-treatment antibiotics may be indicated for immune-compromised patients and those who have inflammatory arthritis, type 1 diabetes, or hemophilia

Go Back