title: Doctor, my dentist wants your opinion.
abstract: Dental surgery is very common, and it is important for our dental colleagues to understand the medical history and chronic medications of our co-managed patients. Antibiotic prophylaxis is currently recommended only for patients at high risk for infective endocarditis when undergoing high-risk dental procedures. Good dental hygiene can prevent more infective endocarditis than prophylactic antibiotic therapy, as transient bacteraemia is common in daily activities such as the brushing and flossing of teeth. Most dental surgeries can generally be performed on patients taking a daily dose of aspirin, but the dentist must be able to assess the risk-benefit ratio of employing local measures of haemostasis versus stopping the antiplatelet therapy. Patients on antiplatelet with recent coronary artery stenting should be referred to their primary cardiologist regarding the cessation of these agents before any surgery.
authors: National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore. chee.fang.yee@nhcs.com.sg
authors: Fang Yee
authors: FY
authors: Chee
authors: Choon How
authors: CH
authors: How
mesh_terms: D017130:Angioplasty; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill / Q000379:methods; D003815:Dentists; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications; D018942:Macrolides / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000150:complications; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000009:adverse effects; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D034363:Viridans Streptococci / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018942:Macrolides; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin; D001241:Aspirin