Hi, I had total hip replacement surgery almost 6 months ago. Today I lost a filling from one of my teeth and was wondering if it warrants an urgent request for a dental appointment or if I could wait until after the weekend? I'm concerned about getting an infection on or around my new hip.
If I lost a filling I would be asking today for an appointment ASAP, that would perhaps be after the weekend in any case. In the U.K. it is no longer routine for antibiotic prophylaxis during dental work, but it would be wise to mention your op was 6 months ago. If after discussion your dentist decides that he will use antibiotics he can prescribe a suitable one, this is usually taken 2 hours before the treatment
Hi Joy,
I would get it fixed as soon as possible. Don't wait. It's not worth the risk involved.
Best wishes!
Good morning Julie I don't know about your doctor but my doctor said any type of dental work requires taking antibiotics prior to any dental work and my understanding that is forever for those of us that have hip replacement. but I'm not 100 percent sure because I'm sure someone else will come on here and have a different opinion. But that was what my doctor told me. And the sooner the better to get that tooth fixed just so there is no chance of getting an infection. Best of luck to you.
Sorry meant Joy!! Damn autocorrect!'
Call your dentist. I would be more concerned about the lost filling? How did you lose it and where did it go? 😂 Call the dentist.
This is what my surgeon informed me of as well Linda. I have to medicate no matter what dental proceedure is done for the rest of my life. PERIOD. Every Doc is different, mine is the type who is pretty overly conservative, but I guess better safe than sorry. Too many antibiotics is not good either, but really, how many times in a year does that happen for dental work? Maybe a few and that's it. And then for just an extremely short time to prevent anything from happening and not for a 10 to 14 day plan of treatment or anything.
I asked my surgeon. He said that studies have been done globally and the results are not clear. In older patients who have a history of complications, they should take the antibiotics prior to having dental work.
It's probably the job of the orthopaedic specialist to write the prescription, but I have a really good dentist. At my last appointment I forgot to take the antibiotics. My dentist had some available, which he gave to me immediately as a precaution. He told me that the American Dentistry Association doesn't believe that its necessary, but he's willing to provide them to me as 'the verdict is out' on weither its really necessary or not.
My dentist (in the UK) has told me that giving antibiotics to hippies having dental treatment is old-fashioned and currently regarded as uneccessary. He's just had knee surgery himself and I do believe he knows what he's talking about. If I actually had a dental infection, an abcess or whatever, I might be worried, but personally I wouldn't panic over a lost filling, I'd just get it fixed!
Yea after dislocating my first hip 3 weeks in and having to have a total hip revision....I'd rather be safe than sorry. And yea too much antibiotics is not good, my dentist said you have to do this for at least 2 years, but my surgeon said for life too. But your right how many times do you need to go to the dentist except for routine cleaning and, hopefully not, a filling that fell out, getting crowns, root canal....old fashioned or not I rather be safe than sorry. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!! 😂🤓😎
I feel the same way Linda. I was very fortunate not to have any complication after my FHR, but the procedure and recovery (Months!!) was enough for me not to want to take any chances.
Thank you for your advise. I rang my dentist this morning and have been and had a temporary filling put in. She said there was no need to take antibiotics. I trust her judgement.
Oh god! What a worry it's been. Lol.. I was on night duty on Thursday, came home this morning and after a shower made a hot drink and grabbed a fresh cream cake to eat in bed before settling down to sleep.( I know, I know... it's not good for me! ) one minute all was fine , the next I was crunching on something, which turned out to be my filling. Panic set in . It was only 07.30 so had to wait till 09.00 to ring my dentist. It's amazing how much you can frighten yourself in such a short time! Anyway all ended well. I now have a temporary filling until my dentist can sort the problem permanently. I wouldn't mind but I really look after my teeth. ( I was always going to clean my teeth after eating my cream cake..honest! ) :-)
Thank you. All sorted now. Have seen my dentist today and now have a temp filling until further work can be done.( I feel this could be expensive...lol) She said there was no need for antibiotics and as I have been with her forever, I trust her completely. Once again thank you.
Thank you for your reply. I have seen my dentist and hopefully everything will be ok. It's amazing how frightening such a small thing as loosing a filling can be.
Thank you so much for you reply. I have seen my dentist, who gave me a temp filling until further work could be done. She did not feel antibiotics were needed. Once again, thankyou for your response. :-)
Great!! Hope all continues to go well for you!! God's blessings to you. LD
Hi Joy
I find this forum really helpful. I have not had your problem but now an aware if I have any dental issues to speak to my surgeon first as well as the dentist.
Thanx
All the best.
I am 8 weeks out from THR. At my 6 week appointment with the orthopedic surgeon, I asked about whether I would need to take an antibiotic before dental work. He said if it was work that caused bleeding, then I would need to take one antibiotic pill one hour before the procedure. He said I would need to do this for that type of dental work for two years post surgery. I was incredulous that he was saying just one pill one hour before the dental work. Doesn't seem like one pill would do it, but that's the information he gave me.
My surgeon told me that I will need to take antibiotics an hour before all dentist appointments for the rest of my life.