DENTAL PROCEDURES & ANTIBIOTICS
If you are experiencing any tooth pain or have not had a dental check-up within the last 1 year, you should have a dental check-up prior to your joint replacement. If you need to get this scheduled, please let us know IMMEDIATELY, as it is critical we hold off scheduling your surgery until this is done.
- If you need to have dental work performed, it needs to be completed at least 1 month prior to surgery. Do not plan on any dental work for at least 3 months AFTER surgery to minimize your risk of the mouth bacteria spreading to your artificial joint.
- Once you have an artificial joint in place, your risk of contracting a blood-borne infection (bacteria that circulates through your blood and settles on your joint), is higher than normal. Thus, we recommend antibiotics for all dental work or invasive procedures after surgery.
- AFTER your joint replacement, you should take preventive antibiotics for all of the following:
- Any dental work including regular teeth cleanings (these can lead to mouth bacteria entering your blood stream)
Recommended Antibiotics:
- If you are not allergic to Penicillin: Amoxicillin 2g orally 1 hour prior to the dental appointment
- If you are allergic to Penicillin: Clindamycin 600mg orally 1 hour prior to the dental appointment
*We are happy to prescribe this ourselves without a visit. Your dentist can often prescribe it as well. If you have any issues obtaining it from your dentist, please let us know and we can send it electronically to you.
