Infective endocarditis: An Orthodontist’s perspective

Abstract

Infective endocarditis associated with orthodontic treatment is a rare occurrence. Unfortunately, many orthodontic practitioners do not treat patients potentially at risk of developing endocarditis due to the lack of practical guidelines and fear of precipitating the infection. Additionally, many patients that undergo orthodontic treatment are inappropriately prescribed antibiotic cover for procedures that have a minimal bacteraemia risk. In this paper the literature linking orthodontic treatment and infective endocarditis was examined. The appropriate management were recommended for patients with risk of infective endocarditis during orthodontic procedures.