How is infective endocarditis related to oral health?
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Infective endocarditis is a relatively uncommon infection of the heart valves that can be life threatening. The infection occurs when bacteria or other micro-organisms enter the body and reach the heart. A very common way of bacteria entrance is through the mouth. To prevent infective endocarditis in a patient with a weak heart, antibiotics should be taken before doing certain dental treatments.
The American Heart Association recommends taking antibiotics before dental treatments for patients with:
- Previous history of infective endocarditis.
- Prosthetic (artificial) heart valves.
- Recipients of cardiac transplantation who have cardiac valvular disease.
- Certain congenital heart defects.
The American Heart Association also advises taking antibiotics before the following dental treatments:
- Tooth extraction.
- Endodontic procedures (root canals).
- Placement of implants.
- Tooth or implant cleaning, if bleeding is anticipated.
- Intraligamentary local anesthetic injections.
- Reimplantation of natural teeth after dental avulsion (a tooth that falls out completely after an accident).
- Periodontal procedures (gum exams, cleanings, and surgeries).
- Placement of orthodontic bands, but not brackets.
- Placement of antibiotic fibres or strips below the gum line.
The information above should be used as a reference only. Any medical decision should not be done before consulting a health care professional.