Going to the dentist

[anonymous]

I was wondering if you are pretreated with antibiotics before going to the dentist for routine teeth cleaning if you have CF. My daughter is only 3 but she should start going soon. She is on prophylactic antibiotics cause she cultures MRSA, and gets sick quickly when it flares up. I don't want to stir up the bacteria she's already growing. I'll ask her pulmonologist next time we see him but it seems there is always more important questions to ask when we go so I forget.

Thanks,
Rebecca(mom to Sammy 7 no CF and Maggie 3 with CF)

 

[JazzysMom]

I never get pre treated with antibiotics before going to a dentist. If I have an abcess than the dentist gives me a script for antibiotics or if I was actually sick then I would already be on them from my CF doctor, but never just because of a dental visit. As a child I went quite often since my teeth were awful. I have slowed up tremendously as an adult. I can count on one hand how often I have gone (not counting having teeth extracted) as an adult!

 

[izemmom]

Rebecca - I'm glad you asked this. I was at the dentist myself last week, lying in the chair thinking about how gross the whole thing is (my germy mouth, the instruments, the dentist's hands...) and I suddenly wondered if Emily will need to do anything special egarding dental care. (She's a long way off...) So, I'll be watching for replies! Btw, when your daughter goes, I highly reccommend finding a pediatric dentist. Our daughter (3yrs) saw our family dentist first, needed some work (She has no enamel on her back teeth which the dentist told me was due to something that happened during my pregnancy?!???!) and saw a ped. dentist who was awesome! I hope Maggie's well right now! Have a great day!

 

[65rosessamurai]

I usually go to the dentist like any ordinary person.
As for antibiotics; anytime a question of what medications are you on, would usually reply with a 'no', or to explain the antibiotics, so they don't 'cancel' each other out, or give some bad reaction when mixed.
Dentist offices in Japan seem fairly clean (I was nervous about that for 13 years--too long to wait for a dentist!! And after I got my teeth looked at, I don't have to see him for a few months, now.), though I imagine the states are just as clean.
I had gotten braces at about the age of 13, and didn't get them off until 16 or 17. It was good timing, because it was able to make room for my molars in the back, and the dentist had actually commented on how many teeth I have!
Anyway, good luck at the dentist...he has a big job to help keep your teeth healthy, but I don't know of anyone who likes to see the dentist!!

 

[NoExcuses]

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[thelizardqueen]

I never go on antibiotics before going to the dentist. If I have an infection in my mouth - like a swollen tooth or something, I'm put on an antibiotic to get rid of the infection before they do a root canal, or pull it or whatever.

 

[anonymous]

You should tell the dentist that she has cf and MRSA, so that he can be extra careful with desinfection!!!

Uli,43,Germany

 

[anonymous]

Thank-you for your replies. I think going to a pediatric dentist is a good idea. I take my daughter to clinic in June so I can ask what to do then. I guess common-sense says to go to the dentist when you are well, ie no active infections going on. I just remember that all the scraping they do in your mouth and the recommendation we used to make to heart patients after they had new valves put in or heart surgery to do anti's proir to teeth cleaning. Some times being a old school nurse in my past life makes me crazy.

Rebecca(mom to Sammy 7 no Cf and Maggie3 with CF)

BTW, Maggie IS doing better. She got over an exacerbation in her Cf last week. So far(knock on wood) she seems back to her good old Maggie self. Phew!