Infective endocarditis: An Orthodontist’s perspective

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.

Keywords: Infective endocarditis, Orthodontist, Treatment.