Antibiotics for dentist's appts.

[DeltaDawn23]

I have been told after taking antiobiotics for many years before dental work, that the current theory is they are not needed, even though I have a mild mitral regurge.  I also am on coumadin and antibiotics apparently interacts with that drug.  I need my teeth cleaned very badly -- I have put it off because I've not felt up to it, and I know it is important for heart health to take care of my teeth.  To further complicate matters, I am diabetic and I wonder what would happen if I did develop an infection.  Would I have to go off the Coumadin to be treated for it?  I can and will call the doctor regarding this, but it will be a week or so before I get answers.  Just wondering if anyone has experience with this.  I cancelled an appt. today because I was scared to go.  If anyone can shed some light on this, I'd appreciate it.  Thanks.  

[DeltaDawn23]

Thanks for the info.  I will call the doctor tomorrow.   I know stewing about it is not good and not going to the dentist is not good.  I think part of the reason I am freaked out about it is I spent last Christmas in the hospital with Afib, and it's a terrible time to be hospitalized -- short staffed, nothing gets done until the holiday is over.  I don't want to do ANYTHING to end up sick over the holidays.  CF, the Mayo Clinic article explains the situation very well.  I just need to make sure the diabetes is not an issue.  My doctor's nurse is very good at covering issues like this, and does not act as if it's a bother for her. Thank you both for the info -- it helped me calm down and look at the facts.

[CFS56]

Copied from the Mayo clinic

An American Heart Association (AHA) committee found that for most people, the risk of endocarditis from dental procedures was low. Daily activities, such as brushing, flossing or chewing, are much more likely to cause endocarditis than are bacteria that enter the bloodstream from a single dental procedure.

"Preventive antibiotics before dental work are now recommended only for people who, if they develop endocarditis, are more likely to die or have serious complications," says Walter Wilson, M.D., an infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Wilson headed the AHA committee that recently revised the guidelines.

The new recommendations suggest preventive antibiotics before dental work only for those people with artificial heart valves, a history of infective endocarditis, certain forms of congenital heart disease and cardiac valve abnormalities following a heart transplant.

Preventive antibiotics are no longer recommended for many people who have common heart conditions such as mitral valve prolapse or rheumatic heart disease. Before their next dental visit, patients who have taken preventive antibiotics should check with a doctor or dentist to discuss the guideline changes and determine if the medication is necessary

[achillea]

Here is a summary of the Heart ssociation's position as of 2007,  the idea being that no large scale studies have shown that for most people with valve problems and so on--but no complicated conditions--the risks of the prophylactic antibiotics may be greater than not taking anything beforehand.

Your situation is more complicated than some because of the diabetes, but this really is a question for the professionals.

I suggest you st spinning your wheels about this.  Worry will not provide any answers, so tomorrow--not sometime in the future--just call your doctor, get your answers,  and get those teeth cleaned,for heavens'  sake.