title: Antibiotic prophylaxis patterns of Finnish dentists performing dental implant surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The peri-operative use of prophylactic antibiotics in clinically healthy patients undergoing dental implant surgery is very common in Finland. While antibiotics are prescribed with the hope of preventing both local and systemic complications, their application and utilization is not uniform.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the variation in prescribing patterns among Finnish dentists performing dental implant placement operations. This study also aimed to examine the possible relationship between early implant removal and the use of the prophylactic antibiotics in Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The National Institute for Health and Welfare in Finland granted permission to access the Finnish Dental Implant Register. The peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis prescribing patterns were assessed in a total of 110 543 dental implant placement procedures and 1038 dental implant removal operations performed in Finland between April 1994 and April 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 61 different antibiotics or combinations were prescribed peri-operatively during implant placements in Finland between 1994-2012. Phenoxymethylpenicillin was the most commonly prescribed drug (72.2%). No statistically significant difference in early implant removal rates could be found between patients who had or had not received peri-operative prophylaxis. However, patients who had received peri-operative prophylaxis had statistically significant longer implant survival rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a variation in antibiotic prescribing patterns among Finnish dentists placing dental implants. The results suggest that the use of prophylactic antibiotics has little effect on the prevention of primary implant surgery-related complications and, hence, success rates.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tampere University Hospital , Tampere , Finland.
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pyysalo
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Helminen
authors.forename: Anna-Kaisa
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Antalainen
authors.forename: George K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Sándor
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003815:Dentists; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015921:Dental Implants; D010404:Penicillin V
keywords: antibiotics; dental implants; prophylaxis