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 taken before consulting a health care professional.
The masculine gender may have been more used in the article, but without prejudice, to make reading easier.
Category: questions and answers
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- Is it normal for gums to bleed when you brush your teeth?
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- Is there a relationship between dental problems and overall health problems?
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- Should people that have had coronary artery bypass surgery take special precautions with their dental care?
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- Should people with angina take precautions when undergoing dental treatments?
- Should people with high blood pressure take precautions when undergoing dental treatments?
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- What can you eat after wisdom teeth extraction?
- What diseases might cause you to have dry mouth?
- What lasts longer, grey or white fillings?
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- What might cause you to grind your teeth?
- What might happen if you don’t treat a tooth abscess?
- When can you eat and drink after a tooth filling?
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- When can you smoke after a tooth extraction?
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- Where does a tooth go after extraction?
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- Why are wisdom teeth called “wisdom teeth”?
- Why is teeth-grinding bad for you?
- Why you should not smoke after tooth extraction?
- Will taking antibiotics make the colour of your teeth darker?