- It should be recognized that dentists share responsibility for this one of the biggest problems in modern medicine, according to the authors of the Recommendation of the Working Group of the Polish Dental Society and the National Antibiotic Program on the Use of Antibiotics in Dentistry. At issue is the overuse of antibiotics by dentists while bacterial resistance to antibiotics is growing rapidly.
Antibiotics in dentistry are overused
Published Sept. 17, 2024 11:33
Freepik
- The administration of an antibiotic can be aimed either at preventing surgical site infections or distant infections (antibiotic prophylaxis), or at treating an existing infection whose starting point is within the oral cavity. It should be strongly emphasized that in the prevention of infections in dentistry, proper oral hygiene and maintenance of appropriate perioperative aseptic and antiseptic principles are of primary importance, while in the treatment of dental infections - local causal treatment. The use of antibiotics is not a substitute for any of the above treatments, the document's authors stress.
Each time before deciding to administer an antibiotic, consider the balance of potential benefits and risks of its use. In dentistry, the benefit to the patient of administering a drug for the prevention or treatment of an infection in most cases does not outweigh the potential losses associated with the risk of selection of resistant strains and thus the loss of valuable drugs to society as a whole.
- Recent recommendations by the Polish Dental Society highlight the significant problem of antibiotic overuse in dentistry, which can lead to increased bacterial resistance - a global challenge in medicine. In my practice, I see that responsible use of antibiotics is key," comments dentist, Dr. Zbigniew Dziel.
As he stresses, antibiotic prophylaxis, although sometimes necessary, should be used only in justified cases. Studies show that the basis of infection prevention in dentistry is primarily proper oral hygiene and adherence to the principles of aseptics and antisepsis. Antibiotics should not be considered a substitute for these measures.
- In contrast, in the treatment of dental infections, the effectiveness of antibiotics is limited if not accompanied by causal treatment. There is evidence that overuse of antibiotics can lead to the selection of resistant strains, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology found. Inappropriate use of antibiotics in the treatment of dental infections may result in loss of efficacy of these drugs in the future, the doctor adds.
Zbigniew Dziel stresses that before deciding to use an antibiotic, the benefits and risks must be carefully weighed. The benefits, in terms of preventing serious complications, must be balanced against the risk of developing resistance, which may affect the effectiveness of treating infections in the future.
- For the sake of patients and the effectiveness of treatment, it is crucial to implement strategies that reduce the overuse of antibiotics and promote effective prevention and causal treatment of infections, the dentist points out.
