title: Dental prescribing in Wales and associated public health issues.
abstract: Dental prescribing data in Wales have not been studied in detail previously. The analysis of national data available from Health Solutions Wales showed that dental prescribing in Wales accounted for 9% of total antibacterial prescribing in primary care in 2008. Penicillin and metronidazole constituted the bulk of antibiotics prescribed by dentists. Since the publication of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance (March 2008) on prophylaxis against infective endocarditis, dental prescriptions for amoxicillin 3g sachets and clindamycin capsules have decreased. Dental prescriptions for fluoride preparations increased in number from 2007 to 2008. Dental prescribing of controlled drugs raises no concern. The figure for antibiotic prescribing in Wales is similar to that of England. Nevertheless, the figure seems a little high, indicating potential inappropriate prescribing behaviour among dentists. Antibiotic resistance is a major public health issue and many patients each year die from infections from bacterial strains that are resistant to one or more antibiotics. Inappropriate use of antibiotics is a major cause of antibiotic resistance and every effort should be made to reduce the number of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions in dental practice.
authors.affiliation: Dental Public Health, Public Health Wales, Mamhilad House, Mamhilad Park Estate, Pontypool, NP4 0YP. anup.karki@wales.nhs.uk
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Karki
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holyfield
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D053210:Pharmaceutical Preparations, Dental / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011634:Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014852:Wales
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D053210:Pharmaceutical Preparations, Dental