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Posted on 05.21.01
UPenn CERTs: Rethinking Antibiotics Before Dental Treatment
By Pat French
Many people are prescribed antibiotics before they go to the dentist, in the belief that it will reduce the chances of infection of the heart lining and valves. This has been recommended for more than 45 years, but what evidence exists to support this practice?
The ideal evidence would show:
- that people thought to be at higher risk for this type of infection (endocarditis) really do have higher risk,
- that dental treatment increases the risk even more, and
- that taking antibiotics before receiving dental treatment reduces this risk and otherwise provides a benefit sufficient to outweigh the drawbacks (financial costs and the chance of developing antibiotic resistance or side effects).
The UPenn CERTs has studied these questions among 546 patients in the Philadelphia area. What they found may surprise you. Click here for the full results of the study, but it turns out that your mother was right: Flossing is good for you.