title: Antibiotic use in dental practice. A review.
abstract: Antibiotics are commonly used in dental practice. It has been estimated that 10% of all antibiotic prescriptions are related with dental infections. The association amoxicillin-clavulanate was the drug most frequently prescribed by dentists during 2005, at least in the Valencian Community (Spain). The use of antibiotics in dental practice is characterized by empirical prescription based on clinical and bacteriological epidemiological factors, with the use of broad spectrum antibiotics for short periods of time, and the application of a very narrow range of antibiotics. The simultaneous prescription of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can modify the bioavailability of the antibiotic. In turn, an increased number of bacterial strains resistant to conventional antibiotics are found in the oral cavity. Antibiotics are indicated for the treatment of odontogenic infections, oral non-odontogenic infections, as prophylaxis against focal infection, and as prophylaxis against local infection and spread to neighboring tissues and organs. Pregnancy, kidney failure and liver failure are situations requiring special caution on the part of the clinician when indicating antibiotic treatment. The present study attempts to contribute to rational antibiotic use, with a review of the general characteristics of these drugs.
authors.affiliation: Service of Stomatology, Valencia University General Hospital, Valencia, Spain. poveda_raf@gva.es
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poveda Roda
authors.forename: José Vicente
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Bagan
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sanchis Bielsa
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carbonell Pastor
mesh_terms: D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D000075202:Contraindications; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination