• The tricuspid valve is between the right atrium and right ventricle.
• The pulmonary or pulmonic valve is between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
• The mitral valve is between the left atrium and left ventricle.
• The aortic valve is between the left ventricle and the aorta.

Each valve has a set of flaps (also called leaflets or cusps). When working properly, the heart valves open and close fully.

Heart valves don't always work as they should. A person can be born with an abnormal heart valve, a type of congenital heart defect. Also, a valve can become damaged by:

• infections such as infective endocarditis
• rheumatic fever
• changes in valve structure in the elderly

A defective heart valve is one that fails to fully open or close.

• A stenotic heart valve can't open completely, so blood is pumped through a smaller-than-normal opening.
• A valve also may not be able to close completely. This leads to regurgitation (blood leaking back through the valve when it should be closed).

People with congenital heart valve defects may need treatment with drugs. Some valve defects may be repaired with surgery.

Artificial heart valves are used to replace damaged or diseased heart valves that can't be repaired.

The American Heart Association does not conduct technical review of mechanical heart valves. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is the agency empowered to make evaluations.

Operations to restore the function of heart valves are commonly performed. They're done to improve the health and vigor of people with heart valve diseases. The surgeon who'll perform the operation is the best person to talk to about specific questions or concerns. He or she can best explain the details of the surgical procedure and recovery period.

People with artificial heart valves are at higher risk for developing an infection of the valve (endocarditis). They are also in the highest risk category for having bad outcomes from endocarditis. The American Heart Association says that people in this highest risk category (others in this category include people who have previously had endocardits, people with certain types of congenital heart disease, and people with a heart transplant who develop heart valve problems) need to take antibiotics before most dental procedures.  However, the association says that people undergoing gastrointestinal or genitourinary procedures do not need to take routine antibiotics solely to prevent endocarditis.

People who have damaged, repaired or replaced heart valves are at increased risk for developing an infection of the valve (endocarditis). Until recently, the American Heart Association recommended giving antibiotics to prevent endocarditis to these patients before they had dental work. However, those guidelines have changed — the American Heart Association no longer recommends antibiotics before dental procedures, except for patients at the highest risk for bad outcomes from endocarditis, including:

• those with prosthetic heart valves
• patients who have had endocarditis in the past
• patients with certain types of congenital heart defects, and
• heart-transplant patients who develop a problem with a heart valve.

For all people with prosthetic heart valves, it’s very important to receive antibiotics before certain types of dental work involving the gum tissues, teeth or other soft tissues inside the mouth. This includes routine professional cleaning.

If a person has had heart valve surgery, but has not had a heart valve replaced, their cardiologist or surgeon will tell them if they need antibiotics.

The American Heart Association no longer recommends antibiotics to prevent IE in patients who have gastrointestinal tract or genitourinary tract procedures..

People who have had heart valve surgery will probably be placed on an anticoagulant to prevent blood clots from forming.

The American Heart Association does not conduct technical review of mechanical heart valves. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is the agency empowered to make determinations when such products come under question.

Learn more about Understanding Your Heart Valve Treatment Options.

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