title: Survey of Spanish dentists on the prescription of antibiotics and antiseptics in surgery for impacted lower third molars.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study explored the attitude of registered dentists in Biscay towards prescribing antibiotics and/or antiseptics to prevent potential infections after surgical extraction of completely bone-impacted third molars in otherwise healthy individuals, with no history of infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We sent letters to 931 registered dentists in Biscay, with an explanation of the study objectives, description of a case of lower third molar impaction, including a panoramic radiograph, and a questionnaire. The questionnaire asked whether they would prescribe antibiotics and/or antiseptics, in the hypothetical case of lower third molar extraction surgery presented, and if so, when, what type, at what dose and how long for.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaire was completed by 261 dentists (28%), with a mean age of 44.3 years old (SD 11.05) and mean of 18.7 years working as a dentist (SD 9). A total of 216 dentists (82.7%) considered it necessary to prescribe antibiotics. Of these, 126 (58.3%) would prescribe amoxicillin and 74 (34.5%) amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, while 129 dentists (59%) would prescribe antibiotics both before and after surgery and 10 (4.6%) only after surgery. The most common doses were amoxicillin 500 mg or 750 mg every 8 hours, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 875/125 mg every 8 hours, in both cases for a mean of 7 days. Further, 74 dentists (28%) said they would use immediate post-extraction socket irrigation with chlorhexidine, while 211 (81%) would prescribe antiseptics in the postoperative period, of whom 97% recommended chlorhexidine. We did not find significant differences in the use of antibiotics or antiseptics by dentist age (ANOVA p=0.22 and p=0.53, respectively), or professional experience (ANOVA p=0.45 and p=0.62).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our sample, the prophylactic prescription of antibiotics and/or chlorhexidine is widespread in clinical practice, in most cases amoxicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid for a week, starting the treatment before surgery.
authors.affiliation: Servicio Cirugia Maxilofacial, Hospital Universitario de Cruces, Plaza de Cruces s/n, Barakaldo (Bizkaia), Spain, jsz@clinicaimd.com.
authors.forename: María-Iciar
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Arteagoitia
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Gorka
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santamaría
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Álvarez
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barbier
authors.forename: Joseba
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santamaría
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003813:Dentistry; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local