Prescription Pattern and Awareness About Antibiotic Prophylaxis and Resistance

Antibiotics commonly are prescribed by dentists, and the uses and abuses of these drugs should be familiar to all practicing clinicians. Antibiotics are used in dentistry for two major reasons: to control oral infection, and to prevent a bacteremia precipitated by dental manipulations from causing severe systemic sequelae.

In recent years, there has been an increasing tendency to reduce the widespread use of antibiotics for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. This is based, both on increasing scientific evidence and enhanced professional experience. The development of resistant strains of microorganisms, doubt on the efficacy of the proposed prophylactic regimens, possible toxic and adverse reactions to antibiotics and poor compliance by patients and dentists raised questions about risks and benefits.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) has published guidelines for antibiotic use, recognizing the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. The guidelines are intended to provide guidance for the proper and judicious use of antibiotic therapy in the treatment of oral conditions in children.

Good knowledge about the indications of antibiotics is the need of the hour in prescribing antibiotics for dental conditions. Dental practitioners should know the protocol to be applied in their patients and should apply the most recent guidelines regarding antibiotic regimen.