Many patients have to take antibiotics before a simple teeth cleaning.
It's a measure to prevent heart infections.

For the first time in years Debbi Wilborn can now get her teeth cleaned without first taking antibiotics.

That was the standard for patients like Debbi who have a heart condition called Mitral Valve Prolapse or MVP.

"They explained to me that it was a leaky-like valve an opening and a closing that where the blood flows in and out and it just kind of the little area kind stayed open instead of closing,” says Wilborn.

MVP is a common condition affecting 2% of adults. In most cases it's harmless and requires no treatment, but as a precaution these patients were required to take antibiotics right before and after dental procedures.

"What we're trying to prevent is a condition called endocarditis which is an infection around the lining of your heart caused by bacteria introduced into your blood stream. The thinking was the bacteria introduced from a dental cleaning or dental procedure in your mouth could actually lead to this rare disease.,” says Dentist Dr. Michael Robinson.

After reviewing years of scientific evidence, the American Heart Association recently revised its guidelines -- drastically reducing the number of dental patients needing to take antibiotics.

Among those who no longer need them: people with Mitral Valve Prolapse, rheumatic heart disease, bicuspid valve disease, aortic stenosis and congenital septal defects.

Dr. Mike Robinson says before these changes at least 25% of his patients needed to take antibiotics.

The new guidelines make sense to him.

“If you think about it, people with periodontal problems can cause their gums to bleed at home, and introduce the same bacteria into their mouths, so why in the dental office is it any different than in your bathroom,” says Dr. Robinson

The following patients still need to take the antibiotics: those with artificial heart valves, a history of endocarditis, or a heart transplant because their risk of infection is higher.

Debbi's cardiologist gave her the all clear.

"They called me back the same day and they said no more medication,” says Debbi.

Dentists are advising patients to check with their doctors to make sure.