It’s time for your next dental visit and you’re scrambling to look for medication. In the past, you’ve taken an antibiotic prior to dental procedures to protect your heart from any infections that bacteria in your bloodstream might cause. However, new information may make this requirement a thing of the past. In fact, studies are showing that taking medication may actually be more harmful than beneficial. Your Glastonbury dentist explains what you should know.
Who Should Medicate Before Dental Visits?
In the past, patients with certain heart conditions such as mitral valve prolapse and congenital heart problems were required to medicate with an antibiotic prior to dental procedures. This was to prevent infective endocarditis (IE), which is an infection of the heart’s valves and inner lining caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream and traveling to the heart.
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