Artificial heart valves are used to replace damaged or diseased heart valves that can't be repaired.

The American Heart Association does not conduct technical review of mechanical heart valves. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is the agency empowered to make evaluations.

Operations to restore the function of heart valves are commonly performed. They're done to improve the health and vigor of people with heart valve diseases. The surgeon who'll perform the operation is the best person to talk to about specific questions or concerns. He or she can best explain the details of the surgical procedure and recovery period. 

People with artificial heart valves are at higher risk for developing an infection of the valve (endocarditis). They are also in the highest risk category for having bad outcomes from endocarditis. The American Heart Association says that people in this highest risk category (others in this category include people who have previously had endocardits, people with certain types of congenital heart disease, and people with a heart transplant who develop heart valve problems) need to take antibiotics before most dental procedures.  However, the association says that people undergoing gastrointestinal or genitourinary procedures do not need to take routine antibiotics solely to prevent endocarditis.  

Related AHA publication(s): 

• Your Heart Valve Surgery