I just read that you need to take antibiotics for dental work when you have breast implants even just a cleaning is this true?

This is a very controversial topic with no clear answer. To my knowledge there is not a definitive study or consensus on this topic. Here is the background information: Breast implants (and other implantable medical devices) are widely believed to increase a patient’s risk of infection or capsular contracture from bacteria entering the blood stream (oral bacteremia) and settling on the implant causing an infection or capsular contracture. As dental treatment bacteremia is a rare cause of metastatic infections it makes it difficult to attribute causality.Some surgeons treat their patients with prophylactic oral antibiotics in the period directly after breast augmentation with breast implants as well as for any procedure that causes transient bacteria, such as dental surgery, colonoscopy, urological procedures (e.g. cystoscopy), and gynecological procedures. Probably a single dose, one hour prior to the treatment followed by single dose after the treatment should be sufficient, as long as the patient is not immunocompromised.Whether this should be done for the first 6 months to 1 year after the breast implant placement is unclear at best. To my knowledge, there isn’t any compelling data to support this. Intuitively many surgeons treat breast implants like other implantable medical devices like pacemakers and total joint replacements.Even vaguer is dental cleaning. One could argue that we cause a bacteremia when we simply brush our teeth and so dental cleaning is only a more aggressive cleaning. Some surgeon’s recommendations may differentiate between superficial dental cleaning (no antibiotics) and deep cleaning and periodontal treatment (antibiotics therapy). There have been anecdotal reports of infection and capsular contracture following dental treatment. Therefore some plastic surgeons and patients after considering the risk of 1–2 doses of antibiotics vs the unlikely but potentially irreparable problems with your implant is worth the risk. As there is no great answer to this controversy, my recommendation is to follow the advice of your plastic surgeon and or other members of your health care team.

As stated, no clear recommendation. However, special considerations should be given to the immediate postoperative period before capsular tissue has formed around the implant. 

The use of antibiotics for dental work after you get breast implants is controversial. I recommend that my patients do take antibiotics during a one-year period after surgery if the dental procedure will procedure blood in the mouth, like a vigorous cleaning. The idea is to help lower the chance of the normal bacteria in the mouth getting into the bloodstream, which could cause an infection. For more information on this and
similar topics, I recommend a plastic surgery Q&A book like "The Scoop
On Breasts: A Plastic Surgeon Busts the Myths."

As stated in other answer, there's no consensus, and everyone does things differently.In my practice, I do not prescribe antibiotics unless you are within 3-4 months of your breast augmentation procedure. Inform your dentist and PS, either one of them may have other recommendations.Best.

Thank you for your question.  In our practice if a patient has had breast augmentation, we recommend a course of antibiotics prior to dental procedures.Best regards,Dr. Lane F. Smith, MDPlastic SUrgeonLas vegas, NV

In my practice it is recommenced that you take all precautions to prevent any infections, but not required. You can request a prescription from your dentist and ensure you tell them you have implants. They should not give you any hassle for doing so. It is completely up to you in what you choose to do. I wish you the best of luck! 

Dear Astefers21,There is no high level evidence that finds that breast implants become "seeded" or infected even with high levels of bacteria in the bloodstream.  However, many plastic surgeons will recommend that antibiotics be taken before dental work if there are breast implants present.  Check your plastic surgeon's personal policies.  

I have not seen any scientific studies proving that prophylactic antibiotics prior to dental procedures prevent capsular contractures. I do not recommend this to my patients.

Thank you for your question.Based on current evidence-based research and few case reports, there is no consensus to recommend routine administration of antibiotic prophylaxis to patients with breast implants before invasive dental treatment. However, if the patient has a history of complications after their breast implant surgery, especially infection,  this may warrant antibiotic prophylaxis before invasive dental treatment. The decision of the dentist must be made in consultation with the patient's surgeon. If antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended, the medication should treat organisms of the oral cavity.I hope this helps and best of luck.

The jury is still out on this issue.  In my practice, we recommend antibiotics before dental procedures and before any invasive procedures for our patients with breast implants.