Parents have asked us if their kids need to take antibiotics before going to the dentist for dental procedures. The short answer is no. Even when a pediatric dentist performs an extraction or root canal, under normal patient medical history circumstances there is no need for taking antibiotics beforehand (*unless there is an underlying condition with the heart or a joint that a family physician or cardiologist prescribes antibiotic preventive coverage for dental care).
The practice of taking an antibiotic medication prior to a medical or dental procedure is called antibiotic prophylaxis. A lot of adults have taken antibiotics without their dentists’ advice because they have them around from a previous prescription. The idea is to prevent infection before it happens or knock something down that they feel “coming on.” Sounds smart, right?
Not really.
Antibiotics are especially dangerous for both adults and children due to burgeoning issues with antibiotic resistance.
So how does the dentist prevent infection?
We treat the affected tooth. Typically, removing the source of the infection will help the body naturally resolve the problem. Unless there is swelling or infection inside the bone that has progressed far along, treating the problem will solve the infection risk.
When does the dentist prescribe antibiotics?
When we see more symptoms due to the dental problem, like facial swelling and fever. In case of dental injury or wounds the need for antibiotic treatment may depend on the severity of the injury and the potential for contamination of the wound.
Some gum diseases also require antibiotics, but this is very rare in children.
Methods of antibiotic treatments
- Oral – the familiar antibiotic pills or liquids. The most common are penicillin and amoxicillin and clindamycin for children with allergies to penicillin type drugs.
- Chip, gel and powder – are all applied beneath the gum line where bacteria tends to congregate
- Chip – usually Chlorhexadine
- Gel – Doxycycline
- Powder – usually Minocycline
Chip, powder and gel treatments dissolve by themselves after about 10 days and are typically used in adults battling periodontal disease.
Our pediatric dentists are very careful about antibiotics prescriptions and only use and prescribe them when absolutely necessary. Remember that antibiotics kill all types of bacteria – good and bad. Misuse of antibiotics by not following a prescribed dosing and administration plan can knock down the good bacterial population and inadequately manage the bad bacteria population.
This is how resistance to antibiotics occurs. Target bacteria are exposed to an antibiotic but not completely eliminated and change their nature to be able to survive a future exposure to the same medication. Therefore, it is prudent to consult with your pediatric dentist if you suspect a dental problem and to never self administer antibiotics and to always follow the instructions on your prescriptions.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Premier Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. The ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.