Dental Work Prior To BAVR

[Jkm7]

Even considering the announcement this summer about not requiring pre-medication, my cardio still has me premedicating before dental cleaning and any work which could produce bleeding. He said it isn't necessary for a filling.

 

[WayneGM]

I had my annual check-up with my Card yesterday and specifically asked about taking antibiotics before dental work. He told me I no longer need to take them (as I was up to this point) and mentioned the new protocol. However, I had a valve repair so I don't know if he would have answered differently if I had a valve replacement.

 

[catwoman]

the removal of plaque from above the gum line. It is usually done with either an electonic scaler or by hand-held scaling tools. It can/does cause bleeding and valvers should be premedicated. My dentist advised me to discontinue warfarin for 5 days prior to scaling or uncontrollable bleeding could occur making it an absolute necessity that your caregivers know about warfarin.

Better luck with your dentistry in the future.

Are you talking about scaling, as in a teeth cleaning?

If your dentist says to go off warfarin for 5 days beforehand, I'd get another dentist.

My dentist never says to go off warfarin. My cardiologist & PCP have told me to stay on warfarin, except for exceptional circumstances. Even my gastroenterologist says he does colonoscopies on mechanical valvers while anticoagulated.

I had my teeth cleaned Monday. Tuesday morning when I brushed, I spit out a clot from where the hygientist had apparently nicked my gum. There was no more bleeding.

Unless you nick a major artery or something like that, you can always control bleeding. It's called applying pressure.

 

[lance]

My point was ....................

My point was ....................

meant as a "heads up" for what to expect from some dentists not that I agreed nor followed their "advice". Actually it provoked a very heated discussion between us and now they both know better (or should know better) than to give that advice to a patient ever again.

All prospective recipients of mechanical valves need this info and a lot more besides to deal successfully with ACT. That is the reason I feel warfarin is a dangerous drug and should be treated as such. Bleeding takes a little longer to stop and has never been a concern of mine.

Are you talking about scaling, as in a teeth cleaning?

If your dentist says to go off warfarin for 5 days beforehand, I'd get another dentist.

My dentist never says to go off warfarin. My cardiologist & PCP have told me to stay on warfarin, except for exceptional circumstances. Even my gastroenterologist says he does colonoscopies on mechanical valvers while anticoagulated.

I had my teeth cleaned Monday. Tuesday morning when I brushed, I spit out a clot from where the hygientist had apparently nicked my gum. There was no more bleeding.

Unless you nick a major artery or something like that, you can always control bleeding. It's called applying pressure.

 

[Bina]

I also went to the dentist for a thorough cleaning before my OHS, it was my choice.
Since I always get the deep scaling and the associated bleeding, I take my antibiotics beforehand. No big deal.

 

[Jkm7]

I agree it's no big deal to premedicate and the risk is too big IMO to not continue to use the antibiotics. I understand about the overuse and do think about that but I also think about infections in valves.

 

[donnamarie]

Prior to my surgery, I needed three fillings, two gum grafts and all four wisdom teeth extracted. Not fun! The gum grafts were the worst.

Oh God, I hope I don't need all that! Well, I already had the wisdom teeth out, so that's one less thing. I made an appt with the doctor my sister works with - for some reason I never went to him - he is an hour away, so that's probably it. She finally convinced me to see him instead of the guy that I had the horrible experience with on the tooth pulling.