JPAC Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee

Dental Treatment

Obligatory

Must not donate if:
a) Less than seven days since root canal treatment, dental capping (crown or veneer), dental implants or having a tooth removed.

b) Less than 24 hours since a filling, scale and polish or other superficial treatments.

c) All wounds are not healed.

d) There is any infection or the donor has been on antibiotics within the last seven days.

e) Allogeneic human tissue (bone) has been used.
 

f) Less than three months since any invasive dental treatment outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI).

Discretionary

a) If inspection, dental impressions or re-cementing of an existing crown or veneer only, with no requirement for further drilling or local anaesthetic, accept.

b) If the donor has received an autologous bone graft within the UK or ROI, accept. An autologous graft is derived from the donor’s own bone.

c) If the donor has been treated within the UK or ROI with graft material derived from a non-biological or approved non-human source, accept.

d) If donor has received graft materials during dental treatment outside the UK and ROI, refer to a Designated Clinical Support Officer (DCSO).

See if Relevant

Infection - General
Surgery
Tissue and Organ Recipients

Additional Information

Dental extractions and other treatments can result in bacteria getting into the blood stream. The waiting times after treatment are to allow healing and for any bacteria that have entered the blood stream to be cleared.


As there may be uncertainty about infection risks for invasive dental treatment performed outside the UK and ROI, a deferral period of three months is required. Invasive treatments include root canal treatments, dental capping, dental implants and tooth extractions.

Graft materials used in dental procedures are highly processed products, derived from autologous bone, other human bone (allogeneic), animal bone or non-biological materials.

In the UK and ROI, any animal-derived graft material used in dental treatment are approved by regulatory authorities and can be regarded as free from known infection risks. If the donor knows that they received a product derived from an animal, or non-biological) source, the donor can be accepted. If the donor is unsure, advise them to check with their dentist.

For dental surgery performed elsewhere in the world, it may be necessary to request more information about any graft products which were used. 
Donors who have had more extensive surgery on their jaw may have received a standard human bone graft. If in doubt, refer to a DCSO.

Information

This is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005.

Reason for change

Guidance for use of non-human graft materials has been clarified and reference to individual products removed. A deferral has been added for invasive dental treatment outside the UK and EU.

Donor Information

If you wish to obtain more information regarding a personal medical issue please contact your National Help Line.

Please do not contact this web site for personal medical queries, as we are not in a position to provide individual answers.

Update Information

This entry was last updated in:
DSG-WB Edition 203, Release 67