OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic prescribing of antibiotics by general dental practitioners. DESIGN: A postal questionnaire of National Health Service general dental practitioners in ten English Health Authorities. SUBJECTS: General dental practitioners (1,544) contracted to provide NHS treatment in the Health Authorities of Liverpool, Wirral, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Nottingham, North Nottinghamshire, Sheffield, Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The questionnaires were analysed and the responses to each question expressed as absolute frequencies. RESULTS: Responses to the questionnaire were received from 929 (60.1%) practitioners. More than 95% of practitioners recognised the need for prescribing antibiotics where there was evidence of spreading infection. Some practitioners (12.5%) prescribed antibiotics for acute pulpitis and (3.3%) for chronic marginal gingivitis. Antibiotics were prescribed by practitioners before drainage of acute abscesses (69%) and by 23% after drainage. Practitioners were generally not influenced by patient's expectations of receiving antibiotics (92%), but would prescribe when under pressure of time (30.3%), if they were unable to make a definitive diagnosis (47.3%), or if treatment had to be delayed (72.5%). Amoxicillin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic used for most clinical conditions apart from pericoronitis, acute ulcerative gingivitis and dry sockets where metronidazole was the drug of choice. There was a wide variety of dosage, frequency and duration for all the antibiotics used in the treatment of acute dental infections. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained from this questionnaire support the conclusion that the therapeutic prescribing of antibiotics in general dental practice varies widely and is suboptimal. There is a clear need for the development of prescribing guidelines and educational initiatives to encourage the rational and appropriate use of the antibiotics in National Health Service general dental practice.
OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic prescribing of antibiotics by general dental practitioners. DESIGN: A postal questionnaire of National Health Service general dental practitioners in ten English Health Authorities. SUBJECTS: General dental practitioners (1,544) contracted to provide NHS treatment in the Health Authorities of Liverpool, Wirral, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Nottingham, North Nottinghamshire, Sheffield, Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The questionnaires were analysed and the responses to each question expressed as absolute frequencies. RESULTS: Responses to the questionnaire were received from 929 (60.1%) practitioners. More than 95% of practitioners recognised the need for prescribing antibiotics where there was evidence of spreading infection. Some practitioners (12.5%) prescribed antibiotics for acute pulpitis and (3.3%) for chronic marginal gingivitis. Antibiotics were prescribed by practitioners before drainage of acute abscesses (69%) and by 23% after drainage. Practitioners were generally not influenced by patient's expectations of receiving antibiotics (92%), but would prescribe when under pressure of time (30.3%), if they were unable to make a definitive diagnosis (47.3%), or if treatment had to be delayed (72.5%). Amoxicillin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic used for most clinical conditions apart from pericoronitis, acute ulcerative gingivitis and dry sockets where metronidazole was the drug of choice. There was a wide variety of dosage, frequency and duration for all the antibiotics used in the treatment of acute dental infections. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained from this questionnaire support the conclusion that the therapeutic prescribing of antibiotics in general dental practice varies widely and is suboptimal. There is a clear need for the development of prescribing guidelines and educational initiatives to encourage the rational and appropriate use of the antibiotics in National Health Service general dental practice.
Authors: A L Cope; E Barnes; E P Howells; A M Rockey; A J Karki; M J Wilson; M A O Lewis; J G Cowpe Journal: Br Dent J Date: 2016-07-08 Impact factor: 1.626
Authors: Juan José Segura-Egea; Jenifer Martín-González; María Del Carmen Jiménez-Sánchez; Isabel Crespo-Gallardo; Juan José Saúco-Márquez; Eugenio Velasco-Ortega Journal: Int Dent J Date: 2017-04-17 Impact factor: 2.607
Authors: Jan Schmidt; Martina Kunderova; Nela Pilbauerova; Martin Kapitan Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-24 Impact factor: 3.390