The prescribing habits of a randomly selected approximately 10 per cent sample of South Australian general dental practitioners were obtained by postal questionnaire. Sixty‐eight (61 per cent) usable replies were received and analysed. Generally, there was an appropriate level of knowledge of antibiotic prescription. However, there was a tendency toward over‐prescription and a demonstrated lack of knowledge of the incidence of adverse reactions, development of multiresistant strains and prophylaxis against bacterial endocarditis. All of these areas are real challenges to the profession, whether in an overall global community health sense or in a highly individualized clinical or medico‐legal sense. These issues are discussed and the profession is urged to reconsider and re‐educate itself on these challenges.

No abstract

New anticoagulants are being introduced into the market. These drugs are orally administered, have predictable pharmacokinetics and dose response, do not require monitoring and have an acceptable safety profile when used appropriately, and so avoid many of the disadvantages and possible complications of warfarin and heparin. Dabigatran is the most widely used, and has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The use of dabigatran will likely increase in the coming years, and so it is important for dentists to be aware of its mechanism of action, the possible complications, and how to reverse the bleeding if it occurs. This review discusses dabigatran and reports on our experience of five cases, and provides practical clinical advice on how to manage patients on dabigatran who require dental treatment, particularly extractions.Keywords: Anticoagulants, bleeding, dabigatran, extractions, oral surgery.Abbreviations and acronyms: aPTT = activated partial thromboplastin time; DVT = deep venous thrombosis; FFP = fresh frozen plasma; INR = International Normalized Ratio; LMWH = low molecular weight heparin; PT = prothrombin time; TGA = Therapeutic Goods Administration; TT = thrombin clotting time; UFH = unfractionated heparin.

Usually dentists in Australia give patients oral antibiotics after dentoalveolar surgery as a prophylaxis against wound infection. When this practice is compared to the principle of antibiotic prophylaxis in major surgery it is found to be at variance in a number of ways. In major surgery, the risk of infection should be high, and the consequences of infection severe or catastrophic, before antibiotic prophylaxis is ordered. If it is provided then a high dose of an appropriate spectrum antibiotic must be present in the blood prior to the first incision. Other factors which need to be considered are the degree of tissue trauma, the extent of host compromise, other medical comorbidities and length of hospitalization. Standardized protocols of administration have been determined and evaluated for most major surgical procedures. Dentoalveolar surgery is undoubtedly a skilled and technically challenging procedure. However, in contrast to major surgical procedures, it has a less than five per cent infection rate and rarely has severe adverse consequences. Dentoalveolar surgery should be of short duration with minimal tissue damage and performed in the dental chair under local anaesthesia. Controlled studies for both mandibular third molar surgery and placement of dental implants show little or no evidence of benefit from antibiotic prophylaxis and there is an adverse risk from the antibiotic. This review concludes that there is no case for antibiotic prophylaxis for most dentoalveolar surgery in fit patients. In the few cases where it can be considered, a single high preoperative dose should be given.

Background: Prolonged anaesthesia may occur following dental local anaesthetic blocks. This paper reviews the possible mechanisms of injury. Direct injury to the nerve by the needle, although commonly thought to be the mechanism, is unlikely. It is much more likely that the injury is from neurotoxicity and ⁄ or interference with the vascularization of the nerve. Methods: Estimation of the frequency of injury was complicated by the fact that although local anaesthetics are prescription-only (S4) drugs, they are supplied without prescription by dental supply houses. Unlike all other S4 drugs, there is no statutory requirement to record supply. The pharmaceutical and supply houses relied on that and 'commercial confidentiality' to not supply information. Results: An informed estimate of 1 in 27 415 was made but this figure has wide confidence limits. Management of cases of prolonged anaesthesia following local anaesthetic injection is discussed. Conclusions: Patients who suffer this uncommon complication suffer considerable distress and feel injured, so care must be exhibited in their management. Specialist referral is recommended.