Our Location
Specialist Dental Group
Henry Lee Dental Surgery
Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre
3 Mount Elizabeth, #08-08, #08-10
Singapore 228510
Opening Hours:
Mon - Fri: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Sat: 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
Closed on Sundays/Public Holidays
Clinic Phone (65) 6734 9393
Fax (65) 6733 6032
Fact Sheet
Antibiotics Before Dental Treatment
You may have been advised by your doctor to take antibiotics before your appointment as a safeguard to your health and may have wondered why.
Any time there is bleeding in the mouth, oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart. This presents a risk for some patients who have heart abnormalities. The following are the rationale for this special instruction.
Premedication may be necessary for dental procedures such as professional tooth cleaning; extractions; incision and drainage of infected oral tissue; some types of injections; and some oral surgeries. Tell your doctor if your health status has changed since your last visit and if any of the following apply to you:
- Heart surgery within the last 6 months
- Vascular surgery (replaced artery) within the past 6 months
- A history of rheumatic fever
- Heart murmur (mitral valve prolapse)
- Have a pacemaker
- Previous history of bacterial endocarditis
- History of rheumatic fever
- Have a systemic pulmonary shunt
- Have a heart defect at birth
- Have acquired heart valve dysfunction
- Have been diagnosed with other heart ailments
Gum infections and poor dental hygiene at home may spread heart-threatening bacteria. Take good care of your teeth by brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Clean between your teeth with dental floss and or an interdental cleaner once a day. Schedule regular dental appointments to have your teeth cleaned and examined.
If you are a patient with heart disease or if you have a special heart condition, taking good care of your teeth and gums is a must - not just for a healthy smile, but also for a healthy body too.
