Total Joint Replacement Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to take antibiotics for dental procedures if I've had a joint replacement?

Yes you do. For the rest of your life you need to use antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce the chance that infection develops in the bone or around the implant. See Infection Precautions and Antibiotics.

What other procedures or conditions require prophylactic antibiotics?

We recommend you take antibiotics to protect your joint replacement if you are having any genito-urinary procedures such as a cystoscopy or TURP. You should also be protected for any gastrointestinal or biliary (gallbladder) surgeries. Any skin infections such as a boil, furuncle, or abscess also requires treatment. See Infection Precautions and Antibiotics.