My Fixed Bridge Makes My Life Easier

When I had a badly decayed tooth extracted, I got a partial denture to fill in the gap. I didn't mind it at first, because I was just so happy to have my painful tooth out of my mouth. Over time, I began to get tired of taking it out at night. I asked my dentist if I was could get a dental implant, and he said that my gum disease did not make me a good candidate, but a fixed bridge may be a good option for me. I went with his suggestion, and I have no regrets. I love feeling like I have a real tooth again that I don't have to remove at night. I created this blog to remind other people with a missing tooth that they have many replacement options, and if one is not for you, then try another that may be right.

Will You Need Antibiotics With Your Dental Implant Surgery?

Dentist Blog

If you're considering receiving a dental implant, you probably already know the basics. A small guide hole will be made in your jawbone and then widened slightly to accommodate the implant. The implant itself (a titanium alloy screw) is then inserted. The peak of the implant is often fitted with a healing cover, and a temporary prosthetic tooth may also be added for cosmetic purposes. Osseointegration then begins, which is literally the bone regrowing around the implant, holding it in place to create a stable base for your permanent prosthetic tooth. It might sound rather intensive for your mouth (and overall immune system), which can lead some patients to wonder why their dentist isn't offering antibiotics.

Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotics have few benefits for general patients receiving dental implants. Any assistance these medications provide during osseointegration and recovery will be negligible. Your dentist also won't want to contribute to the possible risk of antibiotic resistance. 

Unnecessary Antibiotics

This issue occurs when a patient receives unnecessary antibiotics to the point that their immune system develops an actual resistance to the effectiveness of these medications. It's a serious problem, affecting some 2.8 million Americans each year. This is why most patients will not be offered antibiotics with their dental implant. However, there are patients who will benefit from antibiotics. 

Antibiotic Prophylaxis 

It's incredibly important to provide your dentist with your detailed medical history. This information helps your dentist to determine whether you're a patient who requires antibiotic prophylaxis. Think of this as a precautionary antibiotic treatment, reserved for patients who may have an elevated risk of postoperative infection. Despite isolating the implant site, the process will still introduce some bacteria into your bloodstream, and this can trigger an adverse reaction in some patients. 

Eligible Patients

Those who have received an artificial joint replacement, have cardiac issues, or have a compromised immune system may require antibiotic prophylaxis. It's a course of antibiotics that begins prior to your dental implant surgery, essentially fortifying your body's immune response. Ask your dentist if you feel you may need antibiotic prophylaxis but haven't yet been offered it. This underlines the importance of disclosing your full medical history to any healthcare professional who may be treating you.

So while general patients won't benefit from antibiotics when receiving a dental implant, it might be mandatory for other patients. Please ask your dentist if any details of the medications you will and won't need for your dental implant surgery are unclear.

Share

27 January 2022