Guest guest Posted April 20, 2004 Report Share Posted April 20, 2004 Heidi, I've just had a root canal with no antibiotics, 8 weeks post surf. I did this fully aware of the long-running controversy and having reviewed a pack of research. Basically, I decided to trust the advice of both my OS an DS - both of whom are fairly young, progressive, highly respected surgeons who've done a lot of homework on this subject. They told me, independently, that all the best, latest research indicates that the kind of bacteria involved in dental caries are not implicated in cross-infection of hips, and that clinical research shows massive preventive overperscribing of these drugs. At the same time, my dental surgeon left it up to me to make the call. I said forget it. I don't tolerate those drugs very well (touchy digestive system) and I don't want to buy into the overuse problem. That was a week ago. It went well, and I was sent home with notes on what to expect in terms of healing and what to watch for in the event of infection. I'm from a medical family, by the way, and am not at all shy of prescription drugs. (Check out my fully stocked meds cabinet!) But it seems to me the onus is on our professionals to provide optimum treatment and stay on top of infection if/when it occurs, and not to rely on blanket preventive measures. Of course immune-suppressed or otherwise frail patients are a different story. Maybe some of our medical surfers can clarify a few things: ie, where's the research that says cross-infection is a significant enough risk to warrant antibiotics - even for dental hygiene? And (as some have said) for life??? I'm no doc, but does it make sense to bludgeon dental bacteria but pay no attention to common cuts and scrapes? I mean, I get bloodier pruning my laurel than having my teeth drilled. Open to any/all opinions... a Right Durom / Masri@Vancouver General / 17.02.04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2004 Report Share Posted April 21, 2004 I take it you aren't referring to ordinary tooth-cleaning with a toothbrush at home, but to the scrape and clear done by a dentist, that is moderately invasive as it does cause slight bleeding and stirs up bacteria that are removed with the plaque? Please clarify. Virginia (RHS Birmingham M-o-M on THR stem, 27 Aug 04, Brisbane) > > What do you do when your surgeon and your dentist say you don't need > antibiotics for teeth cleaning but other qualified people say you do??? I > know it's a simple thing to just swallow them down and go about your > business, but I really worry about taking them time after time, year after > year, and what effect that has on the immune system. Some have said they're > well tolerated by the body, but whose body? People vary a great deal in > their sensitivity. I've also heard from some reliable sources that overuse > of antibiotics may contribute to leaky gut syndrome. And how is it proven > that the body handles them well when taken this way? Have there been > studies? Can it lead to more resistant bacteria? > I emailed Mr. Treacy's secretary, , recently to ask again what Mr. > Treacy recommended because others have said they were told by him or someone > on his team to always take them. said no need for cleaning, but do > take them for extractions or fillings, which doesn't make sense to me. I > would think cleaning causes a lot more bleeding than fillings. So basically > I'm more confused than ever. > June, I'm sure you'd know it if there was an infection in your hip, as > people have said it's very painful. But it would be interesting to know how > long an infection might take to develop. Could it fester along for weeks, > months, before you felt anything? > Sorry if I seem to be obsessing--maybe I am. But I sort of feel caught > between a rock and a hard place, and I am the type who likes to turn over > rocks to see what's there! > > Heidi > > _________________________________________________________________ > Check out MSN PC Safety & Security to help ensure your PC is protected and > safe. http://specials.msn.com/msn/security.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2004 Report Share Posted April 21, 2004 I take it you aren't referring to ordinary tooth-cleaning with a toothbrush at home, but to the scrape and clear done by a dentist, that is moderately invasive as it does cause slight bleeding and stirs up bacteria that are removed with the plaque? Please clarify. Virginia (RHS Birmingham M-o-M on THR stem, 27 Aug 04, Brisbane) > > What do you do when your surgeon and your dentist say you don't need > antibiotics for teeth cleaning but other qualified people say you do??? I > know it's a simple thing to just swallow them down and go about your > business, but I really worry about taking them time after time, year after > year, and what effect that has on the immune system. Some have said they're > well tolerated by the body, but whose body? People vary a great deal in > their sensitivity. I've also heard from some reliable sources that overuse > of antibiotics may contribute to leaky gut syndrome. And how is it proven > that the body handles them well when taken this way? Have there been > studies? Can it lead to more resistant bacteria? > I emailed Mr. Treacy's secretary, , recently to ask again what Mr. > Treacy recommended because others have said they were told by him or someone > on his team to always take them. said no need for cleaning, but do > take them for extractions or fillings, which doesn't make sense to me. I > would think cleaning causes a lot more bleeding than fillings. So basically > I'm more confused than ever. > June, I'm sure you'd know it if there was an infection in your hip, as > people have said it's very painful. But it would be interesting to know how > long an infection might take to develop. Could it fester along for weeks, > months, before you felt anything? > Sorry if I seem to be obsessing--maybe I am. But I sort of feel caught > between a rock and a hard place, and I am the type who likes to turn over > rocks to see what's there! > > Heidi > > _________________________________________________________________ > Check out MSN PC Safety & Security to help ensure your PC is protected and > safe. http://specials.msn.com/msn/security.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2004 Report Share Posted April 21, 2004 You do not need pre-medication for fillings as there is no blood involved Definitely for extractions and cleanings. This is according to the American Heart Association. Therefore docs in England may have another protocol. There is a slim risk of infection. However- it does exist, it is real- as attested to the hippy who recently posted about his infection due to an extraction done without the pre-med. We were talking about litigation----if this was done in the US this is a case for litigation as all US dentists know the risks involved! This is NOT an overuse of antibiotic. It is ONE dose one hour prior to dental treatment. Granted it is a large dose (generally 2000 mg of amoxicillin if you aren't allergic.) But how often do you visit the dentist? Also it is not year after year. The general recommendation here is for 2 years following surgery. In the end it is your body. YOU can do whatever you want. In our office we would not treat you if you went against your surgeons orders. We would suggest you find another dentist. Rock climbin' Jude LBHR De Smet 09/11/02 teeth cleaning What do you do when your surgeon and your dentist say you don't need antibiotics for teeth cleaning but other qualified people say you do??? I know it's a simple thing to just swallow them down and go about your business, but I really worry about taking them time after time, year after year, and what effect that has on the immune system. Some have said they're well tolerated by the body, but whose body? People vary a great deal in their sensitivity. I've also heard from some reliable sources that overuse of antibiotics may contribute to leaky gut syndrome. And how is it proven that the body handles them well when taken this way? Have there been studies? Can it lead to more resistant bacteria? I emailed Mr. Treacy's secretary, , recently to ask again what Mr Treacy recommended because others have said they were told by him or someone on his team to always take them. said no need for cleaning, but do take them for extractions or fillings, which doesn't make sense to me. I would think cleaning causes a lot more bleeding than fillings. So basically I'm more confused than ever. June, I'm sure you'd know it if there was an infection in your hip, as people have said it's very painful. But it would be interesting to know how long an infection might take to develop. Could it fester along for weeks, months, before you felt anything? Sorry if I seem to be obsessing--maybe I am. But I sort of feel caught between a rock and a hard place, and I am the type who likes to turn over rocks to see what's there! Heidi _________________________________________________________________ Check out MSN PC Safety & Security to help ensure your PC is protected and safe. http://specials.msn.com/msn/security.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2004 Report Share Posted April 21, 2004 Hi Rog, 's exact words were teeth scaling and polishing, so I assume that means digging and scraping with the little tool which can cause bleeding. Did Treacy himself tell you to take antibiotics or someone else? Heidi P.S. Thanks Edith, for your nice response. _________________________________________________________________ Check out MSN PC Safety & Security to help ensure your PC is protected and safe. http://specials.msn.com/msn/security.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2004 Report Share Posted April 21, 2004 At 08:58 AM 4/21/2004 -0700, you wrote: >This is NOT an overuse of antibiotic. It is ONE dose one hour prior to >dental treatment. Granted it is a large dose (generally 2000 mg of >amoxicillin if you aren't allergic.) But how often do you visit the >dentist? Also it is not year after year. In some cases it IS year after year. I have a heart murmur, so have been required to take said dose for many years. So far, I've had no noticeable reaction to the antibiotics. I just have a serving of good yogurt and fruit to replenish some of the lost good bacteria, and there you go. I'd much rather take a chance with the antibiotic than with the possibility of an infection in either my hips or on a heart valve! My dentist would refuse to treat me if I didn't take them... Cindy C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2004 Report Share Posted April 21, 2004 At 08:58 AM 4/21/2004 -0700, you wrote: >This is NOT an overuse of antibiotic. It is ONE dose one hour prior to >dental treatment. Granted it is a large dose (generally 2000 mg of >amoxicillin if you aren't allergic.) But how often do you visit the >dentist? Also it is not year after year. In some cases it IS year after year. I have a heart murmur, so have been required to take said dose for many years. So far, I've had no noticeable reaction to the antibiotics. I just have a serving of good yogurt and fruit to replenish some of the lost good bacteria, and there you go. I'd much rather take a chance with the antibiotic than with the possibility of an infection in either my hips or on a heart valve! My dentist would refuse to treat me if I didn't take them... Cindy C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2004 Report Share Posted April 22, 2004 June, I am sure you are fine. It is very rare. I have heard that generally infection would occur in 2-3 weeks. But you would be running a fever. I doubt very sincerely that this has occurred. Don't worry, but consider pre-medicating next time. Jude teeth cleaning So many responded to my saying that I had my teeth cleaned without antibiotics. It got me a little worried. Dr. De Smet said I didn't need any and my own dentist didn't blink an eye. It has been a couple of months since the cleaning. What kind of symptoms would I be having if I have an infection? Would it be really intense or so subtle that I wouldn't notice? June Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2004 Report Share Posted April 22, 2004 June, I am sure you are fine. It is very rare. I have heard that generally infection would occur in 2-3 weeks. But you would be running a fever. I doubt very sincerely that this has occurred. Don't worry, but consider pre-medicating next time. Jude teeth cleaning So many responded to my saying that I had my teeth cleaned without antibiotics. It got me a little worried. Dr. De Smet said I didn't need any and my own dentist didn't blink an eye. It has been a couple of months since the cleaning. What kind of symptoms would I be having if I have an infection? Would it be really intense or so subtle that I wouldn't notice? June Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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