ADA Releases New Antibiotic Prophylaxis Guidelines for Patients with Prosthetic Joints

“In general, for patients with prosthetic joint implants, prophylactic antibiotics are not recommended prior to dental procedures to prevent prosthetic joint infection. The practitioner and patient should consider possible clinical circumstances that may suggest the presence of a significant medical risk in providing dental care without antibiotic prophylaxis, as well as the known risks of frequent or widespread antibiotic use.”

The January 2015 edition of the Journal of the American Dental Association reports new evidence-based clinic practice guidelines, which recommend against antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental treatment in patients with prosthetic joints (see above). A panel of experts conducted a comprehensive literature search which failed to demonstrate an association between prosthetic joint infection and dental treatment. Other factors, such as antibiotic resistance, adverse drug reactions, and cost, were also considered in the assessment.

Since 1992, OSHA Review, Inc. has provided dental professionals with comprehensive programs to support regulatory compliance and infection control. We are a registered dental continuing education provider in the state of California, specializing in Dental Practice Act, infection control, and OSHA training.