Evidence does not support routine use of antibiotics for dental patients with joint replacements
Historically, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Dental Association have advised that people that have a prosthetic joint replacement (knee, hip, etc) take antibiotics before dental procedures. This was due to concerns of getting a bacterial infection around the prosthetic joints. The theory was that bacterial from your mouth would be introduced into your bloodstream during a dental procedure and then infect the tissue around the prosthetic joint. Taking antibiotics before going to the dentist was intended to decrease the risk of an infection.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Dental Association have done a study and release a joint statement that antibiotics for patients with prosthetic joints is not indicated in most cases. The title of the joint statement by the AAOS and the ADA is called ‘Prevention of Orthopaedic Implant Infection in Patients Undergoing Dental Procedures’.
Of course, this is something you want to discuss with your physician and dentist before you stop taking any antibiotics you have taken in the past.
Here’s a link to the article on the American Dental Association Website: