Do you need to take prophylactic antibiotics before cleanings and invasive dental procedures?  Dr. Jeanne Taylor  explains that the guidelines  from the American Heart Association  and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons  have recently changed.   These changes were made because (1) sometimes the risk of taking prophylactic antibiotics is greater than the benefit, (2) sometimes it isn’t clear that premedication is effective in preventing the serious  heart condition infective endocarditis, and (3) normal  daily activities (brushing) might be as likely, or more likely, than dental treatments  to allow bacteria into the bloodstream and create the problem.

These current guidelines DO recommend antibiotic prophylaxis for these conditions:

Total joint replacements (not pins, plates or screws)

History of infective endocarditis

Artificial heart valve

Cardiac transplant with valve problem

Some congenital heart conditions where repair is incomplete

The current guidelines NO LONGER   recommend prophylactic antibiotics for these conditions:

Mitral valve prolapse

Rheumatic heart disease

Bicuspid valve disease

Calcified aortic stenosis

Ventricular and atrial septal defects

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

(Source:  http://www.ada.org/3874.aspx)