Prescribing antibiotics in the dental setting

While dental nursing staff may argue that they do not need to know about prescribing practice, one could speculate that they are key members of the pathway because patients may question them regarding a script that a dentist has provided.

This month's research summary article highlights established concerns regarding the appropriateness and overprescribing of antibiotics in the dental setting, and challenges seemingly unsubstantiated, yet common, empirical prescribing methods. The author's publication (following a previous review of the role of common antibiotics used in the management of acute dentoalveolar abscess), makes a clear case for challenging prescribing habits based on the increasing global problem of antibiotic resistance and growing evidence that refutes the ‘traditional’ antibiotic course of 5–10 days’ duration.