Dental cleaning postponed after coronary stent placement

Yes, for dental work you need to wait or be taking an antibiotic. Any bleeding from the gums like may happen when cleaning the teeth or dental work with blood - bacteria can go directly into the blood stream causing problems to vascular situations.
So yes, talk to the cardiologist as to how long to wait and what precautions need to be taken. The dentist is protecting not just themselves but you from possibly causing an infection where the stents are.

@charlotteeb
After my STEMI in 2025 I run any new test, med suggestion, supplement, and medical procedure by my cardiologist. It’s returning to a new normal now, but navigating the first year took patience and I learned a lot. Glad to be alive!

@charlotteeb Thanks for your insight. I'm "annoyed" that something like this wasn't even mentioned when I visited the office twice or after my second stent placement. It was a one day, in and out procedure, and the nurses were great. They gave me lots of follow up instructions, but the dental work, or any other procedures were never mentioned. Of course, they did say if I had any question to call, but I didn't think having my teeth cleaned would be an issue. I'm almost 80 y o and have never had any major health issues so I guess I'm still a bit naive.

I don’t recall if the cardiologist or any of his people told me about the need for antibiotics for dental work. I didn’t need to recall because my dentist told me as soon as he found out I was having heart surgery. I will take amoxicillin every time I go to the dentist even for cleanings for the rest of my life or unless they change the medical/dental protocols. I have a biologic aortic valve.

While I have not had a heart procedure, I was advised to take an antibiotic for each dental visit because I have had a knee replacement. The thinking is with a foreign medical device (in my case the metal and plastic components of an artificial joint), my surgeon didn't want the bacteria kicked up from a dental procedure or cleaning to then attack said artificial joint.

This really comes down to what your cardiologist and/or medical provider advises you to do and how long that window is. @suzva, you are on the right track with reaching back out to your cardiologist. It may be worth asking them what the research shows and for the specific guidelines for dental work as well as what that timeline looks like as well just to confirm what your hygienist informed you of.

@suzva No stents here, but a body full of orthopedic implants, the first done at age 54. The first dentist didn't mention pre-dosing with antibiotics, but when I showed up at my first dental cleaning a couple weeks after surgery on crutches (Why not now? I'm off work anyways) the aide at the front desk stopped me cold.

She said the surgeon should have had me do the cleaning before surgery because I needed to wait 6 months, and then I would need premedication with antiobiotics.
I went back and looked at both his pre- and post-surgery instructions, and there was no mention of this limitation. For many reasons that guy is no longer my ortho.

But I have been pre-medicating now for over 20 years, and waiting 3-6 months after joint surgeries for a cleaning. Emergency procedures are permitted earlier, but with antibiotics before and for 2 weeks afterwards.
My most recent surgeon, who replaced my wrist this past summer, called the pre-med routine "a small price to pay" and I agree.

@suzva I'm really surprised that your Cardiologist's office/doctor didn't give you a complete booklet on your upcoming procedure that outlined all the do's and dont's before and after the surgery and dental work is a huge part of what a patient needs to know.

I know I didn't know until I was scheduled for my first stent which was a complex PCI and I had work done within the timeline they gave me BEFORE I had my procedure. I'm happy your dentist's office was aware. Best wishes.

I had a mitral valve repair with placement of an annulus ring and a few gore-tex chordae. I was instructed that I need to take an antibiotic, four Amoxicillin 500mg capsules, an hour before any dental procedure including cleaning.

youtuber Dr. Ford Brewer has a video explaining how our mouth health can affect vascular health.

Hmm Thanks for this thread. I was not advised to postpone dental cleaning for 6-12 months after my stent placement. It just happened that way (I was lazy) so I am OK 🙂