sbe antibiotics

[Andrew'sMom]

can anyone out there help me on this question about sbe antibiotics??? I do not understand why antibiotics are needed for dental cleanings ... but not for other mouth injuries with open, bleeding wounds (like my kid jumping out of a tree and biting 2 holes straight through his tongue, for example!) Now are the bacteria that are present in the mouth that could enter the blood stream during a dental cleaning not the same bacteria that are present in the mouth at all times? Can they not easily enter the bloodstream through other open mouth wounds, like the tongue punctures, or even say a punched out tooth or any other bleeding mouth injury? Why is it just dental cleanings/procedures that require treatment? I don't see the logic ... can anyone help?

 

[Ross]

The bacteria disturbed by dental cleanings is of the very nasty variety should it get into the blood stream. If it were to develop into something such as Endocarditis or some other infection of the heart, your talking about heart damage. If it's a mechanical valve and the infection sets up on it, your looking at a valve replacement. If you look it at this way, it makes taking those antibiotics insignificant in comparison.

Yes there are other nasty germs in the mouth and sometimes it doesn't seem like there is any logic to it, but there is.

 

[Lynlw]

can anyone out there help me on this question about sbe antibiotics??? I do not understand why antibiotics are needed for dental cleanings ... but not for other mouth injuries with open, bleeding wounds (like my kid jumping out of a tree and biting 2 holes straight through his tongue, for example!) Now are the bacteria that are present in the mouth that could enter the blood stream during a dental cleaning not the same bacteria that are present in the mouth at all times? Can they not easily enter the bloodstream through other open mouth wounds, like the tongue punctures, or even say a punched out tooth or any other bleeding mouth injury? Why is it just dental cleanings/procedures that require treatment? I don't see the logic ... can anyone help?

the problem is you have to take the antibiotic before after it is too late,

 

[Jkm7]

My next dental appointment (coming up soon) is the first for which my cardio has told me to pre-medicate. He told me one hour prior to the appointment.

How precise is this? If the dental technician is 30 minutes late in taking me for my cleaning, is that a problem? What if the appointment runs an hour but was 30 minutes late in my being seen? So, by the time they finish, I'd be 2 and a half hours out from having taken the antibiotics. Is that safe?

 

[Lynlw]

My next dental appointment (coming up soon) is the first for which my cardio has told me to pre-medicate. He told me one hour prior to the appointment.

How precise is this? If the dental technician is 30 minutes late in taking me for my cleaning, is that a problem? What if the appointment runs an hour but was 30 minutes late in my being seen? So, by the time they finish, I'd be 2 and a half hours out from having taken the antibiotics. Is that safe?

yes that's fine, it is a min thing to allowed the antibiotics to get in your system, Lyn

 

[debster913]

I know it doesn't make sense, but ironically enough, this was a concern of mine at one point. Every now and then I've nicked my gums brushing my teeth, or bit my tongue eating...doc says antibiotics aren't needed for that. I suppose otherwise I'd be on antibiotics all the time, and that's not good either. And don't even get me started on the two years I had braces in high school...my wires sometimes cut me. Like Ross said, more "invasive" dental procedures do kick around more threatening bacteria, but still BE scares the four-letter word out of me. But just to be sure, ask your son's cardio.

Debi (debster913)

 

[gijanet]

Jkm

Jkm

If the dental technician is 30 minutes late in taking me for my cleaning, is that a problem? What if the appointment runs an hour but was 30 minutes late in my being seen? So, by the time they finish, I'd be 2 and a half hours out from having taken the antibiotics. Is that safe?

Be sure and remind them when you check in that you are on a prophylactic regimen for dental work and let them know exactly when you took it. If they are not very familiar with the routine, then you might also want to remind them that one hour prior to the procedure is optimal. Hugs. J.

 

[gijanet]

Great question!

Great question!

Can they not easily enter the bloodstream through other open mouth wounds, like the tongue punctures, or even say a punched out tooth or any other bleeding mouth injury? Why is it just dental cleanings/procedures that require treatment? I don't see the logic ... can anyone help?

Yep, I hear ya. I know "they" say that it is not the same, but why isn't it? Germs are germs, and if there is trauma to the gums, be it from an accident or a thorough cleaning, then why are our kids only at risk of BE for cleanings? I'm already sweating Katie's losing her baby teeth as we are nearing that age. Since she is on coumadin, she is likely to bleed just a tad bit more and take longer to heal. Does that place her at greater risk of BE? Does anyone know? What kinds of stats have been kept on kids on coumadin who lose their baby teeth and later developed BE? I'm sure there is a boatload of info out there on that one............yeah, right~!!

Okay, I'll go back to pondering other pertinent issues, like how women in nudist camps wear their maxipads................what do they stick them to?..............adhesive side up maybe? OUch!

Hugs. J.

 

[francie12]

Hi, Jen!
I think alot more bacteria gets into the bloodstream during teeth cleaning than, say, bumping your face or biting your tongue (I asked the dr. about this too when it first came up). It's a pretty heavy dose, all at once. I guess there are alot of nasties under the gum line, and alot of little traumas to the gums during the cleaning. Maybe the body handles bacteria better when it comes in small doses, but when there is suddenly quite a bit, as in teeth cleaning, it has more chance of sticking to the valve??

 

[LaughClown]

Ive been taking antibiotics before dentist visits since I can remember. Its better now though. Now I take four pills, when I was little I took seven (small size though) and some weird pinkish stuff for the two days after.
From what I understand, though, its because they are working on your bone which transmits bacteria to the main bloodstream easier. I was told if I had a compund fracture with an exposed bone it would pose the same kind of risk. So getting a tooth punched out I would guess antibiotics would be a good idea, biting your tongue, not as much of a worry. Baby teeth falling out, I would think I might be a risk, except I never had to take anything for that when I was a kid.

 

[Andrew'sMom]

I definitely agree to err on the side of caution. We do pre-medicate before dental appts. I just question why some of the other mouth injuries don't need treated. A while back I read in a newsletter from somewhere (I think it was Childrens Hosp of Pgh) that teens & young adults with chd's, particularly valve issues, should avoid tongue piercing due to the increased risk of endocarditis.
Thanks for all the responses!

 

[debster913]

I've heard about the no-tongue piercing guideline, and as a high school teacher, I've discouraged many a student from getting his/her tongue pierced, whether he/she has valve probs or not. Endocarditis is a risk because the tongue is completely pierced and allows all that bad bacteria in, especially since the tongue takes a while to heal. (At least, that's my understanding). I've heard of kids who never had valve problems suddenly needing a valve replacement because of tongue piercings. Tattoos and other body piercings can also be risky--it's why, even though I wanted an ankle tattoo last year, I never got one. I called my cardio, and he asked flat-out, "What do you want to do a silly thing like that for?" So no tattoo for me. Except maybe a henna tattoo. Or a sticker.

 

[Mary]

can anyone out there help me on this question about sbe antibiotics??? I do not understand why antibiotics are needed for dental cleanings ... but not for other mouth injuries with open, bleeding wounds (like my kid jumping out of a tree and biting 2 holes straight through his tongue, for example!) Now are the bacteria that are present in the mouth that could enter the blood stream during a dental cleaning not the same bacteria that are present in the mouth at all times? Can they not easily enter the bloodstream through other open mouth wounds, like the tongue punctures, or even say a punched out tooth or any other bleeding mouth injury? Why is it just dental cleanings/procedures that require treatment? I don't see the logic ... can anyone help?

Our pediatrician always prescribed antibiotics for our toddler when he had large amounts of mouth/gum bleeding--for example, falling on his face and busting his lip and gum. Of course, that's been 20 years ago, but our PCP says it still holds true with his troublesome valve.