Cautious Dentist

[RWS]

I think my dentist is being cautious because of my past history and wants me to check with the Doc before a possible root canal. I cant find anything in the guidelines for valvers saying you cant have a root canal other than the standard antibiotic regiment etc?Actually I?m having a crown prep but the xrays show I may need a root canal. However, there is no pain or know infection. I got endocarditis #2 from a known tooth infection but that was the bad valve that is now gone. Just wondering if anyone who has had endocarditis and valve replacement has been told not to have root canals or whatever?BTW, I just got back the results from my yearly echo and it was so good I get to stop another drug, down to two?.

 

[Ross]

Take your antibiotics and have your root canal. They may or may not want to extend the dosing of the antibiotics, but you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[tobagotwo]

There is no infection present, and thus no infection to send into the blood stream during a root canal procedure. Regular, single, 2gm dose per visit should be sufficient. If there were an infection, you would already be on a longer antibiotic treatment anyway, and it wouldn't have come up as an issue.

Of course, the dentist can keep putting it off, and you eventually will get an infection, and his problem is solved...

Best wishes,