Medical History Mysteries: Joint replacements and antibiotic prophylaxis: Is it really necessary?
In the last episode of Medical History Mysteries, we discussed the American Heart Association’s new protocols for antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis and their effects on dentistry.
I also have several patients with joint replacements, but no one seems to want to take responsibility for whether or not these patients need antibiotic premedication. We need to clarify the guidelines as they relate to dentistry; after all, antibiotic stewardship is huge.
In this episode, Dr. Tom Viola and I discuss exactly what the American Dental Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs says about antibiotic prophylaxis and joint replacements and what we need to know before providing dental treatment to our patients.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Through the Loupes newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe to Through the Loupes.
Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, is the chief editor of Dental Economics. Based in Salem, Massachusetts, Dr. Maragliano-Muniz began her clinical career as a dental hygienist. She went on to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she earned her doctorate in dental medicine. She then attended the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dental Medicine, where she became board-certified in prosthodontics. Dr. Maragliano-Muniz owns a private practice, Salem Dental Arts, and lectures on a variety of clinical topics. You may contact her at [email protected].
