Begin here,

http://www.ada.org/public/topics/health_oral_faq.asp

What types of heart conditions pose a risk?

Certain heart conditions are more often associated with endocarditis
than others. To determine if an existing heart condition poses a risk,
your dentist needs complete health information on your medical history
form. The form should also include the name and address of your family
physician or cardiologist as well as the names and dosages of all
medications that you take.

Do any of these apply to you?

Heart surgery within past six months
Pacemaker
Vascular surgery (replaced artery) within past six months
Artificial heart valve
History of rheumatic fever
History of heart murmur (mitral valve prolapse)
Previous bacterial endocarditis
Systemic pulmonary shunt
Congenital heart defect
Acquired valvular dysfunction
If you have any of these conditions, if you have been diagnosed with
other heart ailments, or if your health status has changed since your
last dental visit, tell your dentist.

DISCUSSION:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/cardio/messages/35233.html

They have Gas Pipe but no Stove Pipe.

Someone writes,

The AHA guidelines have not changed the last few years regarding
prophylaxis. Conditions listed for which prophylaxis is recommended
include prosthetic heart valves, mitral valve prolapse with valvular
regurgitation, previous hx of endocarditis, surgically constructed
pulmonary shunts, acquired valvar dysfunction, hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy, and some congenital cardiac malformations. Prophylaxis
is not recommended for previous bypass surgery, MVP without
regurgitation, or innocent heart murmurs. Moreover, the procedure
itself may or may not require prophylaxis. For example, if you have
MVP with regurgitation and you have an app't for a simple filling,
premed is not recommended. Procedures that DO req. premed include
extractions, periodontal procedures in which significant bleeding may
occur, implant placement, endodontic treatment or surgery, placement
of ortho bands, intraligamentary injections (your dentist knows what
this is...it is not your typical injection). As an aside, if you have
had prosthetic joint replacement surgery, premed is recommended for
the first two years following surgery to prevent joint infection.

As a dentist, I follow these guidelines strictly, unless superceded by
a physician. In the event that their recommendations do not coincide
with the AHA recommendations, I will alert them to this. Sometimes
they still want their patients to premed, and in that case we do, but
the bottom line is this: you have just as much of a chance at having
an adverse reaction to the antibiotic as you do having the antibiotic
do you any good at all. Not to mention, microbial resistance to
antibiotics is always a concern. You should not just use them to use
them.

I have not looked, but the ADA website should have the latest
recommendations online. Look there for a full listing of the drugs of
choice and specific conditions and procedures involved. Amox 2g 1 hr
pripr to visit is the gold standard as previously stated...but there
are several acceptable regimines.

Try the American Heart Association.
--

W_B
Take out the G'RBAGE
wubbabubbazG@RBAGEyahoo.com