Why might a dentist prescribe amoxicillin?

Typically you take a prophylactic (treatment before there's a problem) antibiotic before dental work if you have any sort of implant (such as a joint replacement, or even a surgical screw), a heart defect or murmur. These antibiotics are thought to prevent bacteria from the mouth, which may enter the blood stream during dental work, from reaching the site of the implant and creating a "slime layer" or infection, or from causing bacterial endocarditis (a heart infection).

New studies show that taking antibiotics before dental work may not be necessary.