You may doubt the essentiality of a pre-surgical dental check up before any orthopedic surgery. But it holds great significance as certain dental procedures could cause bacteria found in the mouth to travel through the bloodstream and settle in your artificial joint. This increases your risk of contracting an infection, according to the American Dental Association (Receiving antibiotics before dental treatment? JADA, Nov 2003).

All should visit their dental practitioner before their Arthroplasty (Joint Replacement Surgery) for the elimination of gross dental diseases and advice on oral hygiene. (Ref: Editorials – Antibiotic Prophylaxis, dental treatment and Arthroplasty – time to explode a myth, British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery 1997).

‘What do your joints have to do with your teeth?’ Quite a bit, if you have a joint replacement. Patients with joint replacements should be sure to mention their new joint replacement to their dentist before undergoing any dental procedures.