Best antibiotic for dental implant infection

After dental implant surgery, dentists and implant surgeons usually prescribe antibiotics to reduce the chance of infection. These antibiotics should be taken regularly and for a certain time to reduce the possibility of infection. Dental implant infection is one of the biggest problems that may occur. Infection may occur in the soft tissue of the bone and cause it to weaken and lose. If the infection becomes high, it can cause dental implant failure. Antibiotics are the most reliable solution to deal with dental implant infections. For this reason, patients who have undergone dental implant surgery must follow the dentist’s prescription regularly and accurately. Dental implant infection can also threaten a patient’s general health, especially if their immune system is weak. The priority of dentistry is to maintain a patient’s oral health in terms of function, comfort, aesthetics and prevention of damage to the oral and dental system. Since teeth are an integral part of the oral and dental systems, tooth loss can cause loss of structural balance, inefficient oral function, and poor aesthetics. For this reason, in the first step, the dentist tries to protect the safety and a patient’s general health and then installs the dental implant in terms of aesthetics and ease of use. Since the placement of dental implants is the key surgical procedure for missing teeth, it is necessary for surgeons to prevent infection at the surgical site and to heal wounds well. There are many reasons for the dental implant’s failure, one of which is the biological infections that may lead to the creation of bacteria around the implant. Some dental implant failures can be due to bacterial contamination during implant placement. Biologic infection is difficult to treat and because of that, infected dental implants usually must be replaced.

The effect of amoxicillin on the treatment of dental implant infection

Antibiotics are the key solution for these challenges so they are suggested to minimize infections after dental implant placement. one of the most important notions is that the usage of antibiotics should be short-term. long-term usage of antibiotics is related to the production of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The use of prophylactic antibiotics in implant dentistry is controversial.

Dentists sometimes prescribe amoxicillin and other antibiotics from the penicillin family. However, some patients may be allergic to penicillin and related drugs. Recent research from New York University (NYU) has shown that people who need to use alternative antibiotics due to penicillin allergy are twice as likely to have dental implant failure. In other words, taking amoxicillin can reduce the chance of dental implant failure after infection by two times.

Who needs more antibiotics after dental implant surgery?

Those who have a higher chance of getting a dental implant infection due to a weakened immune system should be more careful with the antibiotics prescribed by the dentist and implant surgeon. In particular, elders with weakened immune systems or other serious health problems, smokers, diabetic patients, and people who may be underweight or overweight are at more risk of infection. The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend the use of prophylactic antibiotics for certain patients at risk of infection. These patients include the following people:

• patients with an artificial heart valve
• a history of infective endocarditis (“endo” inside the cover, “card” – heart, “itis” – inflammation)
• heart transplantation
• some congenital heart diseases.

Previously, antibiotics were also recommended for people with artificial joints, but recently the ADA, along with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), concluded that prophylactic antibiotics are no longer necessary for all prosthetic joints. However, some orthopedic surgeons recommend that prophylactic antibiotics be used for patients with artificial joints for up to two years after surgery.

Differences in the opinions of dentists regarding the use of antibiotics after dental implant surgery

It is still debated whether healthy, low-risk, and moderate-risk people should use antibiotics for dental implant surgery. Concerns include side effects ranging from diarrhea to allergic reactions and an increased likelihood of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A recent review by the Cochrane Center for Controlled Trials Research, which performed a statistical analysis of multiple studies in low-risk individuals, found that the use of oral antibiotics before can be beneficial. It has been reported that 2 g of amoxicillin 1 hour before surgery may reduce implant failure under normal conditions (with no significant side effects). Experts have also stated that giving antibiotics to 25 people will prevent premature implant failure in one person. They found no evidence of a benefit to using antibiotics after surgery and did not examine which antibiotics are better. The benefits of antibiotics for dental implant surgery are case-by-case and depend on the needs of individuals. It is important to know about your medical history (any medical conditions, any medications you take, prescription and over-the-counter medications, and supplements). Talk to the implant surgeon.