Antibiotic prescribing patterns in general dental practice- a scoping review

Abstract

Introduction Antibiotic prescribing in general dental practice is common and may contribute to antimicrobial resistance. A scoping review was undertaken to map the existing literature on patterns of antibiotics prescriptions in general dental practice to gain a more focused understanding of prescribing behaviors of general dental practitioners (GDPs).

Content This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews. The review protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework. Eligibility criteria included original research studies which reported the antibiotic prescribing behaviors of GDPs and published between January 1990–February 2025. Scopus and PubMed were searched, followed by screening of the articles based on the eligibility criteria. A total of 2,076 records were retrieved following searches on PubMed and Scopus. Title and abstract screening were carried out for 215 articles, and 34 articles were considered for full text screening and finally 17 studies were included in the review. Antibiotics were prescribed for a wide range of conditions including cellulitis, abscesses, periapical infection, and periodontal conditions. Amoxicillin and amoxicillin with clavulanic acid were prescribed most commonly.

Summary The results highlight a disconnect between professional guidelines and prescribing practices of dentists. Dentists appear to prescribe antibiotics for clinical situations which may be managed better with operative interventions.

Outlook The review underscores the need to improve antibiotic stewardship in general dental practice settings to curb inappropriate antibiotic use and address the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance.