Dental procedures and their relationship with postoperative peri-prosthetic joint infection

LEIPZIG, Germany: As the global population ages, the number of total joint arthroplasties (TJAs), particularly of the hip and knee, correspondingly increases. Between 1% and 2% of these surgical procedures result in peri-prosthetic joint infection (PJI).1 A substantial body of literature has explored the connections between these life-threatening infections and oral health, though reaching scientific and professional consensus has proved intractable. In this article, the most salient threads in the discussion are explored and the current state of knowledge described.