Dental Patients in Need of Antibiotics

Posted in Dentistry FAQ's

There are several reasons why antibiotics may be appropriate for your dental procedure.  The American Dental Association offers guidelines for dentists so they can be familiar with the established regimens for dispensing antibiotics at the appropriate time to specific dental patients.

First, if you have an infection in your tooth, you will need antibiotics before undergoing a dental procedure, such as, a root canal procedure to clean out the infection. Secondly, certain medical conditions may pose a risk for infection following dental treatment. In these cases, antibiotics are administered in the days before the procedure to reduce the risk of infection. For example, people who have heart valve issues or total joint replacement are considered at risk for infection. This is because certain dental procedures for those with heart valve issues or total joint replacement may send some bacteria through the bloodstream which creates a risk for infection at the location of heart valve issue or joint replacement.

As such, some people do require antibiotics over the course of a few days prior to certain dental treatments. Furthermore, when infections in the mouth are left untreated, the infection can travel through the bloodstream into other areas of the body.  In some cases, these infections can be life threatening. This is another reason why it is very important to obtain appropriate dental care in a timely fashion.  It is important to note that you may require antibiotic treatment for several days before the procedure.  It is not advisable to delay dental care at any time you feel you need it.

If you are interested in dentistry, contact Austin Dental Spa.