subject: Why You Should See Your Dentist Before Elective Joint Replacement Surgery? [print this page] Having joint replacement surgery can raise many questions. There might be questions regarding the procedure itself, what is the treatment plan that your orthopedic doctor has prepared for you? You could have questions regarding the risks involved or how soon you can get back to your daily walking routine. One of the more common question asked by patients is if they should see their dentist before having joint replacement surgery. It might sound silly but it is a valid question and there is a lot of value in it with regards to properly managing your surgery.
Some people might have actually dismissed this question as an old wives tale. Why would you see someone for your teeth when your problem is your joint? The answer to this question can actually be summarized in one word, infection.
The human mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria. It normally contains more than seven hundred different species of bacteria. Bacteria is normal when it is in the oral cavity helping protect our gut against other opportunistic bacteria that can give us an upset stomach when ingested. However, bacteria can still cause overt infection when introduced to other parts of the body like the inside of a joint capsule or the skeletal system. These bacteria can then multiply and cause a subsequent infection and in orthopedic surgeries, infections are a really big concern.
Having an infection in your mouth means that there is abnormal number of bacteria and can cause an inflammation. When this happens, the small blood vessels in the mouth will enlarge and open up causing that swelling often associated with infections. The blood vessel will be more permeable and the bacteria could migrate into the bloodstream and implant itself to other parts of the body.
In the case of a joint replacement surgery, these bacteria can lodge itself into your brand new joint. Infection in your newly implanted joint, even if done by the expert orthopedic doctors in Asheboro NC, is something that you don't want. In fact, infection is the most dreaded complication in joint replacement surgery. Our joints receive only a small amount of blood so when it gets infected, it would be hard for the antibiotics to reach the joint. The orthopedic doctor will have to remove the newly implanted joint just to manage that infection.
Having to see your dentist before an elective joint replacement surgery is necessary to make sure that there are no infections in your mouth or any of your teeth. Your orthopedic surgeon of Asheboro NC might require you to secure this clearance before your surgery just to be in the safe side.
Having elective joint replacement surgery is important for those wanting to eliminate pain and live a comfortable and full life. In addition, seeing your dentist before this particular surgery is just as important. Consult with your local Asheboro orthopedic professionals and see what they can do to that diseased joint of yours.
