Why It’s a Good Idea to See a Dentist Before Your Joint Replacement

Dental Health Matters Before Joint Replacement

You may be wondering what your dental health has to do with your upcoming joint replacement. Brian Hollenbeck, MD, Chief, Infectious Disease at NEBH explains that a dental exam before surgery helps to rule out and eliminate sources of infection including gum disease, severe tooth decay, or dental abscesses. This is important because left untreated, bacteria in the mouth can lead to bacteria entering the bloodstream that could settle into surgical areas, like your new joint, and cause complications.

In general, avoid routine dental cleaning within two weeks before surgery or three months after surgery.  If you need dental work within that time frame, make sure that you talk to your surgeon about it first.