The longtime standard has been prescribing antibiotics for dental patients with orthopedic implants and those with certain heart conditions (as a precaution to ward off infective endocarditis), according to the ADA. However, in most cases it's best to bypass antibiotic prophylaxis, experts say.

The American Heart Association recommends antibiotic prophylaxis only for patients with the highest risk of developing infective endocarditis. Also, the ADA and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, in a systematic review of the literature, found no direct evidence that dental procedures cause orthopedic implant infections.

The six-panel Antibiotics and Dental Treatment brochure costs $39 for a pack of 50 copies. All ADA Catalog patient education products, which includes the antibiotics brochure and personalized products, are available for a 15% discount with promo code 13135 through December 31.