In the News, Spring / Summer 2019: Antibiotics Used Excessively in Dentistry

Researchers have found that antibiotics prescribed by dentists in the United States to guard against infection are not necessary 81 percent of the time. Using a database of national healthcare claims, the study looked at nearly 170,000 antibiotic prescriptions written by dentists from 2011 to 2015.

These prescriptions were given to more than 90,000 individuals, over 90 percent of whom underwent a dental procedure that would have called for the prophylactic use of an antibiotic only in high-risk cardiac patients. However, less than 21 percent of those had such a cardiac condition.

Unnecessary antibiotic use needlessly exposes patients to potential side effects and contributes to antibiotic resistance. One of the researchers, Jessina McGregor of the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, said, “Preventive antibiotics in these patients gave them risks that outweighed the benefits.”

Because the data was limited to people with commercial dental insurance and the researchers used a broad definition of high-risk cardiac patients, these findings may underestimate the unnecessary prescription of antibiotics in the general population.

Researcher Susan Rowan stated, “I think that dental providers should view this study, which is the first to look at preventive antibiotic prescribing for dental procedures, as a powerful call to action, not a rebuke.”

Sources: Antibiotics that dentists prescribe are unnecessary 81% of the time, research shows. Oregon State University, May 30, 2019. today.oregonstate.edu/news/antibiotics-dentists-prescribe-are-unnecessary-81-time-research-shows.

Suda KJ, Calip GS, Zhou J, et al. Assessment of the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions for infection prophylaxis before dental procedures, 2011 to 2015. JAMA Network Open, 2019; 2(5):e193909.