Prescription of antibiotics in the dental practice: a survey of dentists in Switzerland.

In dentistry, antibiotics are prescribed both for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. Their unwarranted use, however, may lead to the selection of resistant microorganisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the indications and the extent of antibiotic prescription by dentists in Switzerland. A questionnaire was sent to 800 dentists during the winter of 2008/2009. Responses to the questionnaire were received from 20% of them. Many respondents indicated that they tried to prescribe antibiotics in a selective and cautious manner. Nevertheless, uncertainties existed regarding the indications. For example, the frequency of prescribing an antibiotic when it was not absolutely necessary was related to the respondents' uncertainty regarding the correct diagnosis and therapy. Not surprisingly, two-thirds of the respondents would prefer to have precise guidelines for the use of these drugs.