The crippling grip of antimicrobial resistance in dentistry: A review

A primary challenge for dentists is maintaining or restoring a balanced oral microbiome, as it plays a significant role in determining oral health and disease states. However, oral diseases such as gingivitis, dental caries, periodontitis and peri-implantitis can occur when pathogenic microbes settle in the oral cavity and become part of the oral biofilm. There are several preventative and therapeutic strategies available today, but the majority of them are centered on antibiotics. Antibiotic stewardship in dentistry might be a helpful strategy to maximize and prevent inappropriate or even needless antibiotic usage, marking a step towards precision medicine, given the current context of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Additionally, efforts are being made to discover novel, efficient treatments that can take the place of antibiotics.