Antibiotic prophylaxis may sound stressful, but it's actually a practice that keeps your body safe and sound. When you're undergoing a dental procedure, the last thing you want to worry about is the treatment potentially causing larger problems. That's why we're working to increase patient awareness of pre-meds, or prophylactic antibiotics. These medications prevent oral bacteria from causing infections elsewhere in the body. During procedures involving the gums, that bacteria may enter the bloodstream, migrating to your heart. And that's what preventive antiobiotics protect.
The American Heart Association and the American Dental Association have changed their recommendations for patients - but are you up to date on the current requirements? We ask that you take this opportunity to check in with your general practitioner. As your dental practice, we can't change your prescribed medication, but we do need you to be ready for your upcoming procedure. By ensuring that you're taking the right medication (or abstaining from medication), you help your dental treatment proceed smoothly - and get out of the office (and back to life as usual) ASAP!
Read on to learn more about the current recommendations, and schedule a check-up with your doctor if you suspect your prophylactic needs may have changed.
When Do Patients Benefit from Prophylactic Antibiotics?
Antibiotics are recommended when there's a chance of bacteria entering the blood stream. This typically means that the procedure involves the gingival tissue (the gums). But they're not recommended for everyone - just for patients who have certain conditions. And those recommendations continue to change.
Today, you may need to take antibiotics prior to dental treatment if you have:
If you're uncertain about your status, check in with your surgeon or cardiologist.
Today, you no longer need to take antibiotics if you have:
Why Are Antibiotics So Important Before Dental Treatment?
We're all concerned with keeping ourselves from taking too many antiobiotics, especially with the growing worries about antiobiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. But in this case, it's safer to take pre-meds than forgo them. England serves as a case study. In 2008, their National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommended the cessation of antibiotics for the prevention of infective endocarditis. In the years since then, the instances of infective endocarditis have risen significantly, with about 35 more cases per month being reported than before the policy change. While the link between a lack of prophylactic antiobiotics and the cases of endocarditis has yet to be established, the findings are troubling.
If you want to keep your heart healthy, your treatment on track, and your dentist (and yourself!) happy, then it's key that you check in on your antibiotic usage. Before your next dental procedure, get in touch with your doctor to see what he or she recommends. Staying on top of this is just one more way to embrace great health, and get in touch with your own needs.
Have any questions about preventive antiobiotics? Contact Dr. Kim Okamura to learn more. Boost your patient education today!