NECESSITY OF ANTIBIOTIC PROPHYLAXIS IN TOTAL JOINT PROSTHESIS PATIENTS BEFORE DENTAL PROCEDURES

One of the most serious complications of total joint prostheses is late osteoarticular prosthetic infection. although it is not common, once it occurs, it leads a destructive clinical course and very high treatment costs. it is hematogenous in one-third of the cases and the source is generally either cutaneous or urinary tract. however, the reports which suggested osteoarticular prosthetic infection could arise after dental surgery, made the clinicans think that prophylactic antibiotics could be needed, as in bacterial endocarditis, and even special protocols had been published. in this review, the necessity of antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedures in total joint prosthesis patients will be discussed.