When a person has surgery why do they need to visit the dentist and what is the reason for a dental visit before surgery?

[DodgerGirl]

My uncle was supposed to have surgery for a new hip but before he could have the surgery he was told that he'd have to visit the dentist before his surgery and now my uncle cannot get his surgery at all and I would like to know if this is a new requirement for people who are having surgeries now? What do dentists actually do when people need surgeries? Do they give people checkups or do surgeries do damages to teeth? Because aside from my uncle my aunt's friend and a friend of my father's were told about this requirement for surgeries? Is this a new rule that the hospitals have for people who need surgeries and can people decline the dental visit and just have the surgery? I had never heard of this rule before because what do your teeth have to do with your surgery?

 

[LoveDaisy]

Planning joint replacement? Check with your dentist first

 

[leebee]

If you have joint replacement surgery, they don't want you to have any dental procedures that might go below the gum line for either 6 months or a year after the surgery because there is some connection with infection being introduced via the mouth and infecting the newly-replace joint. Even now, when I go to the dentist for a simple cleaning, I have to take 2000mg of ampicillin (I think) the morning of the appointment. I had my knee replaced almost two years ago, so I am almost at the end of the pre-dental medication recommendations.

 

[china mom]

Yes, what leebee said.

If you have bacteria under the gum line it can get introduced into your bloodstream.

My daughter's dentist refused to treat her until she either got a clearance from a cardiologist or took prescribed antibiotics before dental procedures.

It ended up being a misunderstanding on the dentist's part because my daughter's situation is different but I know if you have any cardiac implants you have to pre-med before dental procedures.

 

[lanejudy]

@leebee explained it very well. It's to prevent infection at the new joint site.

As to the specifics of your uncle -- maybe his dental check-up showed that he needs dental work done, thus he has to put off the hip replacement surgery until the dental work is completed. Unless you mean it has to be postponed because he couldn't get a dental appointment in a timely manner. (That's a whole different issue.)

 

[Meriweather]

I had a hip replacement....not planned, so no visit before.
But now before any dental procedure including cleaning, I have to take antibiotics.
If you bleed it can go right to the joint and cause an infection. Mouths are loaded with germs.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I still take amoxicillin before dental appointment, 10 years after knee replacement. Some dentists will require for a few years, mine wants me to continue with the protocol due to other heart issues and age.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I find it odd that him going to the dentist dictates if he can have the surgery at all... ever...

What I do know is from my parent's experience.
They want you to have a check up/cleaning to ensure that nothing is loose or needs to be fixed because once you have joint replacement surgery like hip and knee you're not supposed to go to the dentist for 6 months due to risk of infection and depending on what your surgeon says you may or may not have to take antibiotics before going to the dentist for x amount of time or the rest of your life and even if your surgeon retires and research shows you don't need to take the antibiotic for as long the dntist will go by what each individual's surgeon said at the time.
My dad went for a cleaning the week before he was supposed to have a total knee replacement (due to other reasons the surgery got put on hold for the moment).
My dad has had a lot of dental procedures and has implants etc that do get broken easily so the surgeon's office did say if something major happened within the 6 month window he could definitely go to the dentist but can't for a simple cleaning etc.

 

[DodgerGirl]

@leebee explained it very well. It's to prevent infection at the new joint site.

As to the specifics of your uncle -- maybe his dental check-up showed that he needs dental work done, thus he has to put off the hip replacement surgery until the dental work is completed. Unless you mean it has to be postponed because he couldn't get a dental appointment in a timely manner. (That's a whole different issue.)

So that's why my uncle cannot get his hip replaced yet? Because last year when my uncle was gonna have his surgery his surgeon told him that he needed dental work and so he had to get a dental visit before surgery. My uncle hasn't had his surgery yet so that's why he needed a dental exam before his surgery. My mom was curious about this new rule because she had never heard of such a thing and I wonder if this is something new that surgeons and doctors require people to do before a surgery? Because as I mentioned in my opening post this has not only happened to my uncle but also my dad's friend and a friend of my aunt's and I just wanted to know some info on this
Thank you very much for the interesting info because it was very helpful Lanejudy
Dodger

 

[lanejudy]

I wonder if this is something new that surgeons and doctors require people to do before a surgery?

It’s not “new” nor is it a rule for all surgeries. It has been standard for joint replacement surgeries for decades.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I would like to know if this is a new requirement for people who are having surgeries now? What do dentists actually do when people need surgeries?

Totally agree with all the "because you can have dental issues that can compromise such surgery".

I had a hip replacement and I had to go to the dentist to confirm I did not have gum disease. They didn't particularly care about whether I needed fillings, though, just gum disease.

 

[tvguy]

No experience with this, but I am surprised that seeing a Dentist would be such a big issue for some.

 

[disneyseniors]

My uncle was supposed to have surgery for a new hip but before he could have the surgery he was told that he'd have to visit the dentist before his surgery and now my uncle cannot get his surgery at all and I would like to know if this is a new requirement for people who are having surgeries now? What do dentists actually do when people need surgeries? Do they give people checkups or do surgeries do damages to teeth? Because aside from my uncle my aunt's friend and a friend of my father's were told about this requirement for surgeries? Is this a new rule that the hospitals have for people who need surgeries and can people decline the dental visit and just have the surgery? I had never heard of this rule before because what do your teeth have to do with your surgery?

My mother has to have antibiotics before any dental procedures, even cleaning due to a heart condition. She has had some joint replacement surgeries but I can't remember if she had to have antibiotics for them as well. It must be some sort of preventive measure, but I would ask the doctor why he needs to see a dentist.

 

[DodgerGirl]

One more question that I forgot to ask anyone on here is if people are already having surgery how do people afford the dental visit? I mean if the dentist says they have to pull out a tooth or the person needs a root canal how do people do this? Do people need to tell the dentist about any upcoming medical surgeries beforehand or can the dentist offer the person a deal?

 

[LoveDaisy]

Why would the dentist offer a deal? It would be the same as any dental procedure. Your insurance pays according to your dental insurance plan and you pay the rest or all if not covered by your dental insurance plan.

 

[lanejudy]

if people are already having surgery how do people afford the dental visit?

Some people have dental insurance, though it doesn’t always cover the full cost. Many dentists’ offices will help a patient set up a Care Plan account, though that really is like a credit card with option to pay over time.

But managing one’s health (including medical, dental, vision) is up to the individual/family. One hopefully has a bit of savings that can be used for unexpected needs. Or maybe they decide to hold off having one procedure done until they can get the other done and paid off, then save up again.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Some people have dental insurance.
Others would pay cash.
Others would pay on a credit card.
Others may be offered a payment plan.

Having upcoming surgery doesn't mean anything.
You'd deal with it and pay however you normally would if you go to the dentist and they find a problem.
If you're keeping up with your dental visits as you should and going AT LEAST once per year if not the every 6 months that most recommend for a cleaning most of the problems would be found in a routine visit.
Like I said my dad's routine cleaning was already set up prior to the surgery because he knew he was having the surgery 4 months in advance and since you're not supposed to have dental work done for 6 months after if you can avoid it they want things looked at beforehand.

 

[Nayan]

You pay for it the same way one would if getting a hip replaced, either insurance, cash or credit. Dentists do not 'give deals', the same way doctors don't. You either have the means in place to pay for it or you save up.