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Dental problem and THR

Posted , 7 users are following.

Paula8080
Paula8080

Hi, I've just been but on the waiting list for a THR and I've read a few things about dental issues and surgery.

I've got a bit of tooth ache but, now this will probably sound stupid, I'm more bothered by the thought of a trip to the dentist than I am the THR.

Is it completely necessary to get a tooth ache looked at?

0 likes, 16 replies

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  • DawnDedee
    DawnDedee Paula8080

    Posted

    Yes Paula, it is of the most extreme importance! We cannot have one single infection in our bodies when we have a THR because the infection will go straight to the surgery site and infect the bones.

    You need to make sure your tooth does not have an abscess. I am dealing with that right now. My surgeon did blood work and found my white blood cell count was up and even though I reported my abscess and was on an antibiotic, he ordered a hip aspiration done to see if I have infection in the hip joint area.

    Trust me, a trip to the dentist is far less dreadful than having a hip aspiration procedure done. I nearly fainted.

    So go to the dentist Paula. I have heard that bone infection is horrid.

    Best of luck to you! And I am having my tooth pulled in a few days and dread it, so I really do understand.

    Dawn

    • ginger47520
      ginger47520 DawnDedee

      Posted

      Good thing since your going before your THR. Abscess does hurt. I believe all things go well.
    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee ginger47520

      Posted

      Yes It is a good thing Ginger but it feels like a race against time!
  • DawnDedee
    DawnDedee Paula8080

    Posted

    Yes Paula, it is of the most extreme importance! We cannot have one single infection in our bodies when we have a THR because the infection will go straight to the surgery site and infect the bones.

    You need to make sure your tooth does not have an abscess. I am dealing with that right now. My surgeon did blood work and found my white blood cell count was up and even though I reported my abscess and was on an antibiotic, he ordered a hip aspiration done to see if I have infection in the hip joint area.

    Trust me, a trip to the dentist is far less dreadful than having a hip aspiration procedure done. I nearly fainted.

    So go to the dentist Paula. I have heard that bone infection is horrid.

    Best of luck to you! And I am having my tooth pulled in a few days and dread it, so I really do understand.

    Dawn

    • Paula8080
      Paula8080 DawnDedee

      Posted

      Hi Dawn

      Bugger, lol!

      OK, suppose I shall have to make an appointment [cry]

      Hope your extraction goes ok x

    • lee47625
      lee47625 Paula8080

      Posted

      Once you have any joint replacement you will need to take antibiotics every trip to the dentist. Apparently any bad bacteria from your mouth/gums can travel to your new joint and cause not only joint infection but bacteria traveling to your heart valves. You do not want that to happen!! So be brave and get mouth taken care of first like Dawn  said. Post op is icky enough without tooth troubles. Good luck!!
    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK lee47625

      Posted

      Thats interesting

      I've had 2 THR's....one almost 5 years ago and one a year ago and never been told anything about dental appointments or antiobiotics??

      Love

      Eileen  UK

    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee Paula8080

      Posted

      Lol! You go girl! My hip revision surgery is Feb. 27th, so I am working hard to get rid of this abscess. It is always something isn't it?
    • lee47625
      lee47625 eileen64__UK

      Posted

      I was told at my first joint replacement to be sure my dentist knows and always take antibiotic before dental work. This was repeated after each of other 3 replacements. So my dentist office always  calls me before an appointment to make sure I've taken an antibiotic before coming.

      im really surprised no one has told you that. Pretty standard here in US  to prevent bacteria from traveling to artificial joint. Pretty sure also if you have artificial heart valves. Seems artifical parts just more prone to pick up infections.

    • lee47625
      lee47625

      Posted

      Just checked and it is The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery ( AAOS)!that recommends a prophylactic dose of antibiotics before dental/ oral work that might result in any bleeding-- such as from irritated gums. Seems the mouth has a bacteria particularly able to cause blood born infection in artifical joints. Did not mention heart valves in this article but pretty much think it does too.

      so, maybe it is just the American doctors that insist on an antibiotics?

        Love, lee

    • allison72169
      allison72169 lee47625

      Posted

      This is inaccurate; antibiotics are neither needed nor advisable in the instances you mention. First, the type of bacteremia found at hip prosthetic sites is not the same as that in the mouth. Second, every daily brushing or flossing of the teeth unleashes the same bacteria as routine dental cleanings, yet one wouldn't dream of dousing themselves with antibiotics on a daily basis. Third, antibiotics, especially the type that dentists use, are notorious for causing C. diffcile colitis, a dystenteric superbug that is proliferating and becoming increasingly treatment-resistant. In fact, the Canadian dental association recently released a statement to the effect that use of antibiotics for routine dental cleanings is "indefensible and irresponsible." Your information is dangerously antiquated. There may be some individuals who need an antibiotic for routine dental work, e.g., those with compromised immune systems. But for the average person, just automatically taking the antibiotic simply because of having had joint replacement poses more risk than not taking it, and evidence points to its conferring no benefit against infection.

  • kathryn42557
    kathryn42557 Paula8080

    Posted

    I had a root canal done before my thr because you have to be very careful about infections once u have a thr.  My dentist gave me a document describing how I will need to take amoxicillin before any dental  procedure once the hip is replaced.  Might as well bite the bullet and get it taken care of before because u will have enough to handle after.....u don't need a toothache on top of it all!
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