Antibiotic-Prescribing Habits in Dentistry: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Area of Science:

• Dental surgery
• Infectious disease prevention
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health crisis.
• Dentists are significant prescribers of antibiotics, sometimes for non-urgent reasons.
• Understanding current dental prescribing practices is essential for antimicrobial stewardship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the antibiotic prescribing protocols used by dentists.
• To analyze practices for prophylaxis and antibiotic therapy in key surgical dental indications.
• To identify areas of heterogeneity in dental antibiotic prescription.

Main Methods:

• A survey with ten questions was distributed to Italian dentists.
• Participants reported preferences for antibiotic use in specific clinical scenarios.
• Data on antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis, penicillin allergy, implants, and third molar extractions were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Amoxicillin and macrolides were commonly prescribed, especially for penicillin-allergic patients.
• A standard prophylactic protocol involved two grams of amoxicillin one hour pre-surgery.
• Adherence to international guidelines for infective endocarditis prophylaxis was partial.
• Significant variability was observed in antibiotic prescribing for dental implants and third molar extractions.

Conclusions:

• A notable heterogeneity exists in dental antibiotic prescribing patterns.
• Prescriptive variability is most pronounced in situations lacking clear international guidelines.
• Establishing an evidence-based consensus for dental antibiotic use is recommended to improve patient care and combat resistance.