Dentistry Antibiotics

As part of cosmetic dentistry procedures, many people are required to take antibiotics. Some times antibiotics can be taken in advance as a precaution against possible infection. A possible infection is mitral valve prolapse as a result of implants or joint replacement. Another possible infection is heart murmur due to problems with your heart valve. When bacteria affects heart muscles and causes its inflammation, a condition known as endocarditis is possible. This could lead to dangerous consequences like deformation of heart. Prophylaxis is an antibiotic usually given as preventive measure against endocarditis.

After American Heart Association (AHA) published their guidelines for the very first time in 1955, these have been revised multiple times. Instructions regarding the use of antibiotics have also been simplified over the years. The ability of bacteria to gain resistance to existing antibiotics also has been discussed so as to make it easy on the general public.

Guidelines specific to the antibiotic prophylaxis have been revised in 2006 and prior to that in 1990. Originally antibiotics were given for treating infections. Later AHA started prescribing antibiotics in the hope that they can also be helpful in preventing occurrence of infections. The effectiveness of this has been under study for a long time. As of today, scientists have not yet come up with any satisfactory preventive treatments for endocarditis.

Typically doctors are known to follow the recommendations of AHA. But the dosage can vary from person to person depending on the doctor's assessment and this is to be expected as normal.

The following list is given as suggestion only and should be used only with the prescription and consent of your doctor. We are not responsible for any side effects caused due to the consumption of any of these medicines.

Antibiotic prophylaxis is SUGGESTED for the following:

High-Risk Group Of Patients

Prosthetic cardiac valves, including bioprosthetic and homograft valves
Previous bacterial endocarditis
Complex cyanotic congenital heart disease (e.g., single ventricle states, transposition of the great arteries, tetralogy of Fallot)
Surgically constructed systemic pulmonary shunts or conduits

Moderate-Risk Group Of Patients

Most of the remaining congenital cardiac problems (other than the ones listed above and below)
Acquired valvar dysfunction (e.g., rheumatic heart disease)
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Mitral valve prolapse with valvar regurgitation and/or thickened leaflets

Antibiotic prophylaxis is NOT SUGGESTED for the following:

Low Risk Group Of Patients

Isolated secundum atrial septal defect
Surgical repair of atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect or patent ductus arteriosus done earlier
Previous history of coronary artery bypass graft surgery
Mitral valve prolapse without valvar regurgitation
Physiologic, functional, or innocent heart murmurs
Previous history of Kawasaki disease without valvar dysfunction
Previous history of rheumatic fever without valvar dysfunction
Those who have intravascular or epicardial cardiac pacemakers, and implanted defibrillators

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