World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

ANTIBIOTICS PROPHYLAXIS IN DENTISTRY IS UNNECESSARY AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. A CONSCIOUS USE: CLEANER IS SAFER

Rao W.*, Destro M., Rao LoFeudo S. and Benzi Cipelli R.

ABSTRACT

Background: Antibiotics are life-saving drugs when used wisely. However, Antimicrobial Resistance (A.M.R.) is both a global public health and a patient safety problem. Around 10% of all antibiotic prescriptions worldwide come from the dental sector and at least 80% are estimated to be unnecessary.∗ Administering either ampicillin with clavulanic acid or a broad-spectrum antibiotic as a perioperative prophylaxis (P.A.P) is very common practice in dentistry. This protocol has become a clinical habit, although the real need is still much debated in literature. The time is ripe to consider a paradigm shift. Materials and methods: An alternative prophylactic approach has been utilized to avoid the use of antibiotics in dental surgery (P.A.P). These procedures were followed up on by phone call the day after surgery, one week later when sutures were removed, and at a one-month post-op check-up. When indicated (i.e. wisdom tooth extraction, implant placement, regenerative therapy), an x-ray was taken after six months and then once a year. Once healed, the patients had regular scheduled cleanings and basic check-ups over a period ranging from one to fifteen years, respectively 2004-2019. The different types of surgeries and various adverse reactions and/or complications which occurred were collected, analyzed and discussed.

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