Systemic antibiotic prescribing patterns of dentists in Morocco: A questionnaire study

The aim of this study was to describe the use patterns of antibiotics in periodontal therapy among Moroccan dentists.

It was a cross-sectional study. An online survey among 2440 registered dentists was conducted in public, private, and semi-public sectors in Morocco. Within the interrogated dentists, 255 answer the online survey. Data analysis was done by the laboratory of biostatistics-epidemiology of the Faculty of Medicine of Casablanca.

The antibiotics were prescribed for different pathologies. 26.8% of dentists prescribed antibiotics for gingivitis, 91.5% in case of ulcero-necrotizing gingivitis, 92.7% for aggressive periodontitis, 77% to chronic periodontitis patients, and 97.6% in the presence of periodontal abscess. Dentists prescribed penicillin to 37.3% of cases presenting ulcero-necrotizing gingivitis and 62.3% of patients presenting periodontal abscess. Cyclins are prescribed at a rate of 60% to aggressive periodontitis patients. The association of penicillin + metronidazole is prescribed to 37.3% of ulcero-necrotizing gingivitis patients, 47% of patients presenting aggressive periodontitis, 42.5% of chronic periodontitis patients, and 65.5% of cases presenting periodontal abscess.

There are major discrepancies among dentists in antibiotic prescription patterns. Some dentists prescribe antibiotics to patients with gingivitis or patients undergoing noninvasive oral procedures such as air polishing and scaling which is worrisome. Dentists are prescribing antibiotics when local treatment would have sufficed. Dentists also commonly prescribed antibiotics as an adjunct to mechanical therapy for the treatment of periodontal disease.

Systemic antibiotics are prescribed for different conditions according to variable protocols. The appropriateness of antibiotic prescription must be reassessed critically to improve antibiotic stewardship among dentists.