Singapore Med J 2013; 54:11-14; http://dx.doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2013004
Doctor, my dentist wants your opinion
Chee FY, How CH
Correspondence: Dr Chee Fang Yee, chee.fang.yee@nhcs.com.sg
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.
Keywords: antibiotic prophylaxis, antiplatelet therapy, dental surgery, infective endocarditis
Singapore Med J 2013; 54:11-14; http://dx.doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2013004
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