Should my cat be taking an antibiotic like clavamox after having his teeth cleaned?

I had one of my cats teeth cleaned about a year ago. He was given clavamox after the cleaning. I had another of my cat's teeth cleaned yesterday but was not given clavamox or any other antibiotic.

Should my cat be taking an antibiotic like clavamox after having his teeth cleaned?
I work as a vet tech. Typically if we see any sign of gingivitis..inflammation of the gums, we dose with penicillin during the dental. Antibiotics are given afterward if the vet feels that the animal had a sufficient amount of inflammation and possible entry routes for bacteria to breed. There does not have to be tooth decay and infection for the vet to perscribe antibiotics. I would not be concerned unless you know that your cat had moderate tartar and gingivitis before the dental. check your receipt to see if any other medications like penicillin was given.
Reply:no i work for a vet and clavomox is for infections and your pet dose not need that unless he had an infected tooth, other wise nothing
Reply:normally a vet will give a mild antibotic BEFORE a cleaning just incase of nicks and cuts in the gum and to ward off any kind of blood infection during the cleaning. Its not always needed after a cleaning. They might have sent some home because the vet did a poor job and nicked and cut the gums alot. I wouldnt worry much they generally know what they are doing.
Reply:It all depends on how bad the teeth are. When they have to do major scaling of the teeth it releases a LOT of bacteria into their system, and the antibiotics are given to fight that. They are often given both pre-op and post-op, but aren't given for every dental. Antibiotics aren't and shouldn't be given for every routine cleaning, but *should* be given if there are extractions, bad gingivitis, or really heavy build up of plaque.