Dental Work / Antibiotics & Warfarin

[rjbdaddy]

I had an aortic valve replaced with a mechanical valve 3 years agonand things have been great!

I am scheduled for 2 crowns to be put on and the dentist is advising me to take antibiotics prior to the procedure. My question is, do antibiotics affect INR and my Warfarin doseage? If so any idea how much?

I am pretty steady in the 2.5 - 3.0 range on 4-6 mg's each day.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[Bina]

The majority of us do prefer to take antibs before dental procedures. There is always a risk of a cut or infection, even if it is a small risk.
One dose of antibs before the visit does not affect INR significantly. I take clindamycine 375mg x 2

 

[dick0236]

I have taken the antibiotic, Amoxicillin 2000mg, prior to dental work for several years. Have never had it affect my INR.

 

[Ross]

It depends on what antibiotic your given. Find out and let us know or use the drug interactions link in the sticky note above in the forum.

 

[Rich]

I have always done the same as Dick with no problems.
Rich

 

[olefin]

Due to the same tooth, I've taken 2000 mg amoxicillin almost monthly since last July. Also several 10 day doses of other antibiotics. Had no effect on INR. But maybe the tooth is saved.

 

[Lori Sobrero]

Hi, I have a dental appt on Thursday and when I set up the appt today I was told I would take the amoxicillin one hour before
my teeth cleaning. Does this sound normal?

Thanks,Lori

 

[Bill B]

Lori: Yes. Antiobiotics such as amoxicillin are curently recommended before teeth cleaning and other dental procedures if you have a prosthetic valve. Amoxicillin covers the usual mouth flora very well.

Bill (the pharmacist)

 

[Philip B]

Antibiotics

Antibiotics

As others have noted, antibiotics before dental procedures is common practice for many of us. I've never had problems from taking antibiotics. Several dentists insisted that I do the pre-procedure antibiotic thing long before I had AVR surgery simply because I had a heart murmur.

A while back there was a rather lengthy discussion concerning whether or not antibiotics prior to dental procedures was really necessary. I'm not sure there's much research base to justify the practice; however, there seemed to be some agreement among many members that doing the antibiotic stuff before dental procedures didn't really generate many problems.

-Philip

 

[olefin]

I was told I would take the amoxicillin one hour before
my teeth cleaning.

Lori, yes that is correct for taking amoxicillin.

Last year I had an appointment with the endodontics to clean out an old root canal.
My wife forgot to remind me to take the amoxicillin hour before but they had a full dose at his office so I took it there. He went to work soon afterwards. That was the first time my wife forgot.

 

[Jkm7]

My Surgeon, Cardio, Primary Care and Dentist all agree I should take antibiotics before any dental procedure and that is what I do.
(Tissue valve)