Q: Who should take antibiotics before having a dental procedure?
A: Naturally you should consult with your dentist and your doctor or cardiologist on this question to see what's right for you. But the American Heart Association has narrowed the guidelines, saying that only patients in certain categories should take antibiotics before a dental procedure. Antibiotics are intended to help reduce the risk of infective endocarditis, a potentially fatal infection of the heart.
The heart association now says only patients in the following categories should take antibiotics before a dental procedure. Those are patients who have: a cardiac transplant complicated by heart valve dysfunction, certain congenital heart defects, a history of infective endocarditis, and those with an artificial heart valve. The heart association further says antibiotics should be given only for procedures that involve manipulation of the gums and the teeth. Notably, prior heart association guidelines included mitral valve prolapse, rheumatic heart disease and other conditions. Those are no longer included.
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