Trends and regional variation in antibiotic prescribing by dentists in Finland, 2012-2025: A register-based study

This nationwide register-based study aimed to investigate trends and regional variation in the number of antibiotic prescriptions issued by dentists in Finland from 2012 to 2025. Data on reimbursed outpatient antibiotic prescriptions dispensed by Finnish pharmacies were used. Prescriptions were identified using Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical codes and categorized by prescriber, antibiotic type and county. Annual prescription rates per 100,000 inhabitants were calculated. County-level variation was analysed for 2019-2025 using negative binomial regression, adjusting for population size. The overall antibiotic prescribing rate by Finnish dentists increased by 9% from 2012 to 2015 but then declined so that the rate in 2019 was 15% lower than in 2012. Phenoxymethylpenicillin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic, and its prescribing decreased by 28% in 2012-2019. Excluding phenoxymethylpenicillin, for which data were unavailable after 2019, the overall antibiotic prescribing rate decreased by 16% in 2012-2025. Prescribing of amoxicillin increased by 41%, whereas prescribing of clindamycin decreased by 74% and that of doxycycline by 79%. There were up to 3- to 4-fold differences between counties in antibiotic prescription rates by dentists. Overall, there was a modest decline in the overall antibiotic prescribing rate by Finnish dentists, but regional variation in antibiotic prescribing was substantial.