As an adult, my dentist has always made me take an antibiotic before an appointment. Why?
2007-03-12 08:14:49 · 7 answers · asked by Phillip 4 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
More information - I have a heart condition.
2007-03-12 08:26:25 · update #1
Thanks KT :-)
2007-03-12 08:35:13 · update #2
Thanks Linda R.
2007-03-12 10:10:08 · update #3
If you have ever been diagnosed with a heart condition called mitral valve prolapse, you need to take amoxicllin one hour before treatment to prevent bacterial infection. The amount of junk that enters the bloodstream even with a simple cleaning is huge.
2007-03-12 08:30:38 · answer #1 · answered by KT 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
People who have heart problems, or have shunts to drain excess fluid from their brains, are often, if not always required to take antibiotics before dentist appointments because there is a risk of infection traveling to the heart or shunt if gums bleed during the dental exam/cleaning. People with heart problems may be more susceptible to infection.
2007-03-12 09:58:16 · answer #2 · answered by LINDA R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you go to your appointment and need to have work done that requires freezing, the freezing will not take effect if there is infection present. However, if you don't have an infection, your dentist is not practicing good medicine to prescribe an antibiotic for you. This just allows your body to learn how to fight the medicine and it won't work when you do need it. This is how superbugs are created. You should find a different dentist, if this is the case.
2007-03-12 08:21:07 · answer #3 · answered by curlyk2002 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If the appointment is for an extraction or root canal, that makes sense because it prevents a possible infection.
If it's for a checkup, I think it doesn't make any sense and only loads your body up with unnecessary antibiotics.
Ask HIM why he wants you to take antibiotics before appointments. You can let him know that you do NOT want unnecessary ones. They're not that good for you unless you really need them.
2007-03-12 08:19:22 · answer #4 · answered by flywho 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
This is a common practice for people who have poor immune systems or who are taking certain drugs. It may also be that your dentist doesn't take necessary precautions to make sure his equipment is clean and his lines free of bacteria. There was a documentary on this a few years ago. If you're still wondering, just ask him.
2007-03-12 08:20:29 · answer #5 · answered by J F 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
To Prevent Infection from setting in.
2007-03-12 08:34:47 · answer #6 · answered by donna_honeycutt47 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You either have infection, or he is preventing infection from setting in.
2007-03-12 08:17:55 · answer #7 · answered by fisherwoman 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋