Dental Procedures & Colonoscopies

ALL (known) dental work must be completed at least 4 weeks prior to surgery and you must wait 3 months after surgery before any dental procedures are performed. If you have not had a dental exam recently or  have known dental concerns (chipped tooth, toothache, pain with chewing, loose teeth, infected tooth), you must see a dentist and obtain dental clearance prior to scheduling surgery. Please ask our team if you need a letter for dental clearance. 

 

 

There is still no clear consensus in the literature as to whether dental prophylaxis is needed after total joint replacement. However, we do have strong evidence that antibiotic prophylaxis reduces post -dental procedure bacteremia, although it is unclear whether this bacteremia directly leads to a prosthetic joint infection. Based on the current AAOS guidelines, dental antibiotic prophylaxis are recommended for the following patients: 

• History of prosthetic joint infection

• Immunocompromised patients

• Recommended for patients with a megaprosthesis 

 

 

If indicated, you should take preventive antibiotics for ALL of the following:

Any dental work including regular teeth cleanings (Can lead to mouth bacteria entering your blood stream)

Colonoscopies (as they make take biopsies, which can lead to colon 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

 

 

Please contact our office or alert your dentist if any of the above apply to obtain appropriate medications and antibiotic coverage prior to dental procedures.