Anti-infective agents may be necessary to reduce the risk of oral infection, however, protocols exist which may require us to utilize these agents more often than we would like to. Understanding how these agents work allows us to best assess risk and choose the most appropriate agent. This program focuses on the properties of anti-infective agents used in dentistry, including risks, adverse effects and contraindications, with special emphasis placed on current guidelines for prophylaxis of infective endocarditis and joint replacement infection.