Antimicrobial prescribing guidance must for dental professionals, recommends study
Comprehensive antimicrobial prescribing guidance should be established for dental professionals, suggests a study published in the International Journal of Dentistry.
Dental caries, pulpal necrosis, trauma, and periodontal diseases can result in dental infections which could have severe consequences that affect both soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Dental infections are commonly present with symptoms of pain, fever, and swelling. Surgical and endodontic treatments are the early management of infected teeth, followed by antibiotic therapy. Some alternative methods also exist for treating infection such as low-level laser therapy and photodynamic therapy. To reduce the complications of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions especially bacterial resistance, comprehensive guidelines should be established.
A group of researchers from Iran conducted a literature review to summarize the indications of antibiotic therapy in dentistry and discuss the common types of antibiotics that are routinely used in dental practice based on pharmacologic classes. Moreover, types of antibiotics that are considered safe during pregnancy and childhood are also reviewed.
The researchers found that:
· Only about 12% of dentists adequately and correctly prescribe antibiotics, which shows the importance of comprehensive guidelines.
· Antibiotics prescription may result in some adverse effects such as hypersensitivity reactions and dermatological and allergic disorders.
· Furthermore, unnecessary prescription of antibiotics could result in several serious sequelae, for example, bacterial resistance, gastric and haematological problems, and diversion of bacterial microbiota.
· Antibiotic therapy is crucial to control dental infections after surgical interventions such as incision, drainage, and pulp debridement.
· Dentists prefer to prescribe amoxicillin and metronidazole or co-amoxiclav to control dental infections.
· Moreover, clindamycin is an alternative drug in penicillin-allergic patients.
· The accurate information about oral microorganisms, the character of oral infections, and the pharmacokinetics of antibiotics reduce the risk of incorrect antibiotic prescription.
· Some alternative methods exist for treating infection such as low-level laser (LLL) therapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT).
Thus, the researchers concluded that accurate use of antibiotics is crucial for the treatment of dental infections; accordingly, comprehensive antimicrobial prescribing guidance should be established for dental professionals.
Reference:
Antibiotic Therapy in Dentistry by Ahmadi M et. al published in the International Journal of Dentistry.
