Hi 34° | Lo 25°  Fewer Patients Need to Take Antibiotics for
Dental Care  Dear Dr. Roach: I just read the question from “B”
on bacterial endocarditis. I had bacterial endocarditis seven
years ago, and I’ve also had a mitral valve prolapse heart
murmur for decades. You advised “B” that, if you’ve had
bacterial endocarditis, “You have to take antibiotics before any
dental work that seeds the blood with bacteria.” Didn’t the
American Heart Association rescind or modify its recommendation
on that several years ago?  I had stopped the prophylaxis a few
years ago, on the advice of my cardiologist and acquiescence of
my dentist. Should I resume my former prophylaxis treatment?
Thanks! — D.R.  Answer: The American Heart Association did
indeed change its recommendations in 2007, and sharply limited
the people who should receive antibiotics to prevent bacterial
endocarditis. Now the only people for whom antibiotics are
recommended before dental procedures are people with a history
of endocarditis, people with a prosthe