According to the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for patients with the following conditions undergoing dental procedures that involve manipulation of gingival tissue, periapical region of teeth, or perforation of oral mucosa:
1. High-Risk Patients:
• Patients with prosthetic cardiac valves or prosthetic material used for cardiac
valve repair
• Patients with a history of infective endocarditis
• Patients with certain congenital heart conditions, including:
• Unrepaired cyanotic congenital heart disease, including those with
palliative shunts and conduits
• Completely repaired congenital heart defect with prosthetic material or
device, during the first six months after the procedure
• Repaired congenital heart disease with residual defects at the site or
adjacent to the site of a prosthetic patch or prosthetic device
• Patients with cardiac transplant who develop cardiac valvulopathy
2. Moderate-Risk Patients (typically do not require prophylaxis, but
individual clinical judgment is advised):
• Patients with other congenital heart defects not listed above
• Patients with acquired valvular dysfunction (e.g., rheumatic heart disease)
• Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Patients with mitral valve prolapse with regurgitation
3. Procedure Risk:
• Antibiotic prophylaxis is generally recommended for dental procedures that involve:
• Tooth extractions
• Periodontal procedures including surgery, scaling, and root planing
• Dental implant placement and reimplantation of avulsed teeth
• Root canal instrumentation or surgery beyond the apex
• Initial placement of orthodontic bands (not brackets)
• Intraligamentary local anesthetic injections
• Prophylactic cleaning of teeth or implants where bleeding is anticipated