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Q for Dentist -_Antibiotics before dental cleaning

  • 14-02-2016 02:47PM
    #1
    uck51js9zml2yt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭


    Guys
    What's the current thinking on needing an antibiotic when having my teeth cleaned ?
    I've had a mechanical heart valve and I know there's a risk of infective endocarditis.
    Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    Oral Surgeon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,240 ✭✭✭Oral Surgeon


    Dorian Helpful Timepiece wrote: »
    Guys
    What's the current thinking on needing an antibiotic when having my teeth cleaned ?
    I've had a mechanical heart valve and I know there's a risk of infective endocarditis.
    Thanks

    Having a prosthetic heart valve puts you in a significant risk group. The question here is how invasive your cleaning may be?? If its a deep cleaning then definitely antibiotics before hand, if a simple polish only on teeth and no one will be touching the gums at all then maybe not....!

    I would err on the side of caution and give antibiotics as per guidelines (either way) as the consequences are catastrophic if you develop endocarditis....

    http://www.dentist.ie/_fileupload/JIDA/2008%2054%20No_%206%20-%20Dec%20Jan.pdf


  • #3
    uck51js9zml2yt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Thanks OS. I'm abroad so may leave it till I get home. I'll chat to the dentist here to decide the risk.
    The health system in slovakia is good but I'd rather not be using it this trip:)


  • #4
    Oral Surgeon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,240 ✭✭✭Oral Surgeon


    Dorian Helpful Timepiece wrote: »
    Thanks OS. I'm abroad so may leave it till I get home. I'll chat to the dentist here to decide the risk.
    The health system in slovakia is good but I'd rather not be using it this trip:)

    Funny thing is the different countries have different advice...!

    NICE in the UK have advised no antibiotics regardless of risk (you included) but there are rumours that they are going to reverse this change in advice due to a rise in incidence of endocarditis (supposedly linked to dental treatment)...


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