New guidance for dentists in England and Wales is to be issued after a 79-year-old man died from complications following a routine tooth extraction. Michael Briggs, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, underwent the procedure in November 2022 and died two months later from an infection in the lining of his heart.
Mr Briggs had a prosthetic heart valve and was taking anticoagulants, which increased his risk of complications. Despite his GP raising no issues and the extraction being described as 'uneventful', he developed an infection. He was admitted to Royal Derby Hospital in December with bleeding and a fever, but died in January 2023.
An inquest in March found his death was due to 'recognised complications arising from a dental extraction'. Assistant coroner Sophie Lomas has now issued a prevention of future deaths report, highlighting that guidance in Scotland already recommends antibiotics for such patients before dental procedures.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will draw up new guidance for dentists in England and Wales on managing patients with underlying conditions at higher risk of infections. The report noted that existing guidance for Scotland advises prophylactic antibiotics, but no equivalent exists for England and Wales.
