Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2025

Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device OPAD to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior
Published on: June 10, 2013
Changes in Dentists' Prescribing Patterns in Norway 2005-2015
Reidun Lisbet Skeide Kjome1, Joachim André Johansen Bjønnes2, Henning Lygre3
1Centre for Pharmacy/Department of Global Public Health and Primary care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Dentist prescriptions in Norway increased by 33% between 2005 and 2015, primarily for antibiotics and analgesics. This study highlights the need for updated prescribing guidelines for dentists.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacoepidemiology
- Dental Public Health
Background:
- Limited international data exists on dentists' prescribing patterns.
- Norwegian legislation on dentists' prescribing rights is open to interpretation.
- Few Norwegian guidelines support dentists' prescribing practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of all dental prescribing in Norway from 2005 to 2015.
- To identify trends in dentists' prescribing patterns over this decade.
- To characterize prescribing dentists in Norway.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective pharmacoepidemiologic study design.
- Utilized data from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) for dispensed medications.
- Analyzed changes in prescribers, patients, and medications prescribed by dentists.
Main Results:
- A 50% increase in total dental prescriptions observed from 2005 to 2015 (33% adjusted for population growth).
- Antibiotics and analgesics constituted the majority of dental prescriptions.
- Dentists increased antibiotic prescribing despite a national decrease in overall antibiotic use.
Conclusions:
- Antibiotics and analgesics are the dominant drug classes prescribed by Norwegian dentists, with increasing usage trends.
- There is a clear need for evidence-based prescribing guidelines tailored for dentists.
- Ensuring the implementation of existing and new guidelines is crucial for optimizing dental prescribing.
Related Concept Videos
Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Dependence of Elimination Half-Life and Dose Clearance
A study on guinea pigs examined the...
Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution

