Penicillin after root canal..Help!?

I'm a dentist.

Yahoo should eliminate the "Health" category altogether. People who don't know a damn thing about medicine can dole out advice (which is usually wrong) as if they are doctors. What is particularly concerning is that they provide such advice with authority, rarely using the words "I'm not sure" or "I don't know". As such, the average person who doesn't know any better will be inclined to take such advice, thinking that it's good advice.

NONE of the answers above mine are good ones, just FYI.

If the doctor prescribed penicillin for you, then take it. We don't prescribe medications unless they are necessary or we think they may offer some benefit. Penicillin is a commonly used antibiotic that I myself commonly prescribe after performing root canals...as a precautionary measure.

this is just from personal experience but I'm surprised first doc did not give you antibiotics especially since you had infection. Current dentist did right thing in my book as risky to leave an infection untreated. By the way, be sure to take the entire prescription--with antibiotics, they don't work unless you take the entire prescription as ordered by the doc. Penicillin is a long-used and very common antibiotic and is often a first choice of doc's. Glad to hear you are not in much pain. Good luck!

Your infection may of been worse with the second one and that's why he prescribed penicillin. Don't worry about it. I'm not a dental professional, but if you could see inside my mouth, you would know that I know what I'm talking about. I've been on penicillin before and there's not a thing for you to worry about. If it upsets your stomach, then eat before you take it. He only put you on it for 7 days. Most of the time people are put on penicillin, its for 10 days, so, your lucky!!

Don't worry about it. The Penicillin is simply an antibiotic they gave you to prevent the bacteria in your mouth from getting into your blood stream. Taken properly it will resist the bacteria. If not, it is useless.

I was given Penicillin when I had my wisdon teeth removed. Their logic stands to reason. I would advise you to take it unless you are allergic. It doesn't have any significant side effects. I am vehemently against taking medication but it would really suck to get blood poisoning...

Sometimes patients have other medical situations that require Antibiotic prophylaxis, such as abnormal heart defects, or recent joint replacements. In such cases manipulation of the gingival mucosa can introduce microorganisms into the bloodstream, which can then settle in the heart, causing bacterial endocarditis. Your doctor may have prescribed the antibiotics because you have had a change in your medical history?

Microorganisms can be pushed into the bloodstream from doing other things, such as eating or using toothpicks. Practice good oral hygiene regardless of systemic disease, to reduce the bacteria and plaque levels in your mouth to begin with.

You can always call your dentist and get first hand why your prescription has changed.