Treatment FAQ

before dental treatment can begin, a patient who has had a hip or knee replacement must

by Allen Williamson II Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Can I have dental work before knee replacement? Ideally, any dental work should be done as soon as possible Mayo Clinic experts require that dental work be done at least four weeks before hip or knee replacement surgery. Dental complications occurring too close to a planned elective surgery may result in the surgery being delayed.

Back in 2003, the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) issued a joint statement, saying patients should take one dose of antibiotics an hour before dental procedures for the first two years after they received a knee or hip replacement.Jan 28, 2014

Full Answer

Do you need dental clearance before a knee replacement?

It’s best to avoid a problem before there is a problem. If knee replacement, hip replacement, or heart valve replacement surgery is in your future, you need dental clearance well in advance. Schedule an appointment with your dentist (me!) as soon as you and your orthopedist decide on a surgery date.

Should people with a joint replacement be prescribed antibiotics?

In the past, people who have had a joint replacement, such as a hip or a knee replacement, were often prescribed antibiotic prophylaxis before invasive dental procedures.

Do I need antibiotics before dental treatment?

At the moment, until there is definitive evidence to the contrary, I would recommend all joint replacement patients are given antibiotics an hour before any significant dental treatment (fillings, root canal treatment or deep scaling – anything where there is a likelihood of bleeding).

Do you need antibiotic prophylaxis for orthopedic implants?

The American Dental Association has found it is no longer necessary for most dental patients with orthopedic implants to have antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infection.

Does a hip replacement require premedication for dental treatment?

Summary: Healthy patients undergoing minor dental procedures should ideally postpone dental treatments for 3 months after hip or knee replacement and then do not need to take antibiotics prior to dental treatment.

Can you have dental work after hip replacement?

Surgeons generally recommend patients wait 3 to 6 months after joint replacement before seeking dental treatment and that antibiotic prophylaxis is required at this time.

Can you have dental work after knee replacement?

It is important to keep good dental hygiene before and following knee replacement surgeryknee replacement surgery. Most surgeons recommend avoiding invasive dental procedure for 8-12 weeks following knee replacement. This reduces the chance of blood borne bacteria making their way to your new prosthetic knee.

Should I take antibiotics before dental work after hip replacement?

In patients with prosthetic joint implants, a January 2015 ADA clinical practice guideline, based on a 2014 systematic review states, “In general, for patients with prosthetic joint implants, prophylactic antibiotics are not recommended prior to dental procedures to prevent prosthetic joint infection.”

Can you have dental work done before hip replacement surgery?

Request Dental Clearance Before Surgery More and more surgeons are requiring that their patients get clearance from their dentist before hip and knee replacements to help decrease the risk of pre-existing infection traveling to the surgical site.

Why do you need dental clearance before surgery?

An infection in your gums or teeth contains millions of harmful bacteria. These bacteria can easily find their way into your bloodstream and contaminate the boundary between your freshly cut bone and your new joint. This can lead to a severe infection in the surgery site.

Can you have dental work after surgery?

Do not plan on having elective dental work done until 3 months after surgery. What dental procedures require preventative antibiotics?

What conditions need premedication for dental treatment?

Hematogenous infections are infections of the blood. They are both very serious and can lead to death. Premedication for dental treatment is recommended for all dental procedures involving manipulation of gingival tissue or the periapical region of the teeth, or perforation of the oral mucosa.

How long after surgery can you go to the dentist?

For dental work after surgery, you should wait at least six to eight weeks. Your dentist will have your complete medical history and communicate with your surgeon before you have dental work done to ensure that enough time has passed since your surgery.

Should you take antibiotics before dental work after knee replacement?

The American Dental Association has found it is no longer necessary for most dental patients with orthopedic implants to have antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infection.

Who needs antibiotics before dental work?

Today, the AHA only recommends antibiotics before dental procedures for patients with the highest risk of infection, those who have:A prosthetic heart valve or who have had a heart valve repaired with prosthetic material.A history of endocarditis.A heart transplant with abnormal heart valve function.More items...

Why are antibiotics needed before dental procedures?

Antibiotic prophylaxis (or premedication) is simply the taking of antibiotics before some dental procedures such as teeth cleaning, tooth extractions, root canals, and deep cleaning between the tooth root and gums to prevent infection.

Why don't you give antibiotics for staph?

The other reason stated for not giving antibiotics is the development of bacterial resistance.

Why should we not give antibiotics?

The other reason stated for not giving antibiotics is the development of bacterial resistance. This patently ridiculous when one considers the amount of antibiotic given for this purpose in comparison with the population’s overall antibiotic consumption.

How long after joint replacement surgery can you have diabetes?

It is thought (but not proven) that there is increased risk in patients with diabetes or those with suppressed immune systems and early days after joint replacement surgery (some say the first 3 months, others the first 2years).

Where do late infections come from?

It is thought that a small proportion of late infections result from bacteria which normally live within the mouth or oral cavity. It is well recognized that these oral bacteria travel into the bloodstream at the time of dental treatment or even with vigorous teeth cleaning/flossing.

Can you get a deep infection after joint replacement?

Speak to anyone who has had a serious infection and they will let you know it’s not a pleasant experience.

Can bacteria be on joint replacement implants?

These now “circulating” bacteria can deposit themselves on to the surface of a joint replacement implant and once there adhere strongly to the metal where they multiply and if unlucky lead to an infection which is difficult for the body to eradicate.

Why is it so hard to treat infection after surgery?

Infection in the surgery site is extremely difficult to treat because replacement joints are made from non-porous materials such as metal, ceramic, and plastic. For antibiotics to fight infections, they must be carried through the bloodstream.

Why did John have no pain?

In John’s case, because his infection was draining, he had no pain.)

What to do if a joint replacement is contaminated?

The first is for the surgeon to attempt to clean it out surgically. This is known as surgical debridement.

What is the procedure called when you remove contaminated tissue?

This is known as surgical debridement. The surgeon will remove the contaminated/infected tissue surrounding the new joint, wash it vigorously with antibiotics, and follow-up with aggressive antibiotic therapy. The success of such an intervention is less than assured.

Do you need dental clearance for hip replacement?

If knee replacement, hip replacement, or heart valve replacement surgery is in your future, you need dental clearance well in advance. Schedule an appointment with your dentist (me!) as soon as you and your orthopedist decide on a surgery date.

Can a dental infection seed a surgical site?

Blood does circulate through tissue valves, still, the point is you don’t want to run the risk of a dental infection seeding a fresh surgical site with bacteria. Bacteria from a dental infection can contaminate a newly placed valve – with dire consequences. It’s best to avoid a problem before there is a problem.

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