I haven't been to the dentist in a while (bad me) but I decided to schedule a cleaning and they asked if I had a heart murmur, which I do. They told me I would have to have antibiotics before they could do it. This is a new dentist but in the past I have never been asked this before and the murmer has never alarmed my regular doctor. Any ideas?
2007-03-12 12:09:02 · 7 answers · asked by pebble 6 in Health ➔ Dental
I'm a dentist.
This issue is somewhat disputed within the dental profession.
Heart murmers are not all the same. Some require antibiotic premedication (e.g. nonphysiologic murmers), others do not (physiologic murmers). Your physician should tell you whether or not it's required.
Concerning dental care, there are certain procedures that require antibiotic premedication and others that do not. Cleanings do not, technically. Nonetheless, the vast majority of dentists won't touch patients with nonphysiologic murmers who have not premedicated.
You need to take a high dose of antibiotics in order to prevent a condition called subacute bacterial endocarditis, which is caused by oral bacteria introduced into your bloodstream that can infect the endocardium--especially around the prolapsing heart valve--under certain conditions (such as turbulent blood flow caused by a heart murmer).
2007-03-12 16:10:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It may just be a case that everyone is trying to cover their butt just in case there is a problem,
If nothing happened in the past and the dentist didn't warn you about taking antibiotics ahead of time, and in the unlikely event you did get an infection due to transfer of mouth bacteria into your bloodstream that attacked the heart, you would sue him silly, because he should have warned you.
Now he has warned you and if you don't take the antibiotic and tell him you did, and you get infected, you can't win a lawsuit on him. He warns you , because infection is possible and his insurance company says he better.
I have an artificial hip, and I take 600 MG Clyndomycin 1 hour before an appointment, because infection can attack the bone around the metal hip.
It's a safety thing...do it.
2007-03-12 12:31:10 · answer #2 · answered by bob shark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A heart murmur is an indication of a pathology of the heart valves, which could be either benign or an indication of something serious. You should ask your family physician what kind of heart murmur do you have. Antibiotics are given to people with heart murmur before dental procedures to prevent endocarditis which basically means infection of your heart valves.
2007-03-12 12:18:11 · answer #3 · answered by di 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The danger is that during your teeth cleaning the dental hygienist is introducing small amount of bacteria into your gums. That bacteria could travel down your veins into your heart and damage your heart valves and kill you. That is the concern. It is very rare that that would occur, but because there is a small, tiny chance that it could happen, the doctor makes you take antibiotics before treatment to kill off any bacteria in your blood stream. So take the pills!
2007-03-12 17:38:19 · answer #4 · answered by Educated 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
antibiotics dental cleaning heart murmur
2016-02-01 05:39:08 · answer #5 · answered by Janean 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Dr. is simply covering all basis if there is an infection in r
mouth or where ever he wants it out of the way, and You top
notch for any procedure he preforms work PERIOD done at this time. It's not just you but legalities. If something were to
happen to you by chance, God forbid, he's covered his tracks
so to speak. He just doesn't want to be hit with a law suit, lose
his practice, be responsible if something were to go wrong, yada, yada. You know how Dr.'s can be at times?
Or you could ask him when you go back? "like is this normal procedure?"
Summer
2007-03-12 12:34:35 · answer #6 · answered by Diana D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a heart murmur i have to take anitbiotics all my life every time i go to the dentist or others surgery.. my home town Dr never told me i have a murmur until was in the other town when i was ninteen years old back then. i dont know what cuz heart murmur and i dont know if i still have it and now 42yrs old. but still have to take anitbiotics this day..
2007-03-12 14:45:24 · answer #7 · answered by Nancy B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Di is correct.
The mouth is one of the major pathways into your body for germs---bacteria, viruses, etc.
Bacteria can enter the mouth through tiny, or microscopic tears in the gums. This is a direct route to the heart, by blood flow. Any valve irregularities can be a magnate for this bacteria.
This can cause a major infection of the lining of the heart muscle, and it can be fatal.
2007-03-12 12:56:12 · answer #8 · answered by Heather 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because bacteria in your teeth can travel into the bloodstream and potentially you can get an infection which could lead to heart problems, especially if there is any health problems you already have with your heart, such as a murmur or mitral valve prolapse, etc.... they don't want to take that chance or get sued if you got sick or died.
2007-03-12 13:50:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋