An evaluation of dental antibiotic prescribing practices in the United States

Abstract

Background Antibiotic prescribing practices among dentists and dental specialists in the United States (US) remains poorly understood. The purpose of our study is to compare prescribing practices between dental specialties, evaluate the duration of antibiotics prescribed by dentists, and determine variation in antibiotic selection among dentists. Methods We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of dental provider specialties linked to de-identified antibiotic claims data from a large pharmacy benefits manager during the 2015 calendar year. Results As a group, general dentists and dental specialists were responsible for over 2.7 million antibiotic prescriptions, higher than several other medical and allied health provider specialties. Antibiotic treatment duration was generally prolonged and commonly included broad-spectrum agents, such as amoxicillin-clavulanate and clindamycin. Although amoxicillin was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic among all dental specialties, there was significant variation among other antibiotics selected by each specialty. The most common antibiotic treatment durations were for 7 and 10 days. Conclusions This study demonstrates that dentists frequently prescribe antibiotics for prolonged periods of time and often use broad-spectrum antibiotics. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the appropriateness of these antibiotic prescribing patterns. Practical Implications The significant variation in antibiotic selection and treatment duration identified among all dental specialties in this study population implies that further research and guidance into the treatment of dental infections is necessary to improve and standardize antibiotic prescribing practices.

Knowledge of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance amongst final year dental students of Polish medical schools—A cross‐sectional study

“…Although ADA guidelines no longer recommend erythromycin as the first choice for this clinical condition in four Polish universities, 1%-2% students recommended this antibiotic. 25 Proper treatment in a patient allergic to penicillins, which are often the first-line drugs in dentistry, was also addressed in our study. About 60% of graduating students suggested doxycycline or metronidazole, as a proper treatment for patients with aggressive periodontitis.…”

“…26 Recent data have pointed at an increased risk of development of several diseases when antibiotics are given in the early stage of life. 25 It has been shown that antibiotics used early in life may produce deleterious effects on the microbiome with distant health consequences and may contribute to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. 27 This is the reason why their prescription should be limited to situations in which they are indispensable and include only a limited selection of antibiotics.…”

Prescribing practices for antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with prosthetic joints

“…With an aging population and with the number of patients with prosthetic joints increasing, recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) in this specific population has generated significant discussion. However, little is known regarding the actual prescribing practices of dental providers . In addition, research evaluating satisfaction and adherence to professional guidelines might help in developing strategies to create awareness around such guidelines.…”

“…However, little is known regarding the actual prescribing practices of dental providers. 17,18 In addition, research evaluating satisfaction and adherence to professional guidelines might help in developing strategies to create awareness around such guidelines.…”

Assessment of Guideline Discordance With Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Best Practices for Common Urologic Procedures

“…4 Although urologists represented only 1.06% (9 210) of all prescribing providers in 2015, they were the eighth highest prescribers of outpatient antimicrobial agents among all specialties. 5 …”