Antibiotic prescription practices among dentists treating children in the UK

Introduction There are limited paediatric specific data on antibiotic prescribing practices, which have been cited as one of the causes of general overuse and misuse of antibiotics in young patients. The aim of this study was to investigate prescribing practices among dentists with an interest in paediatric dentistry in the UK. Methods A prospective cross-sectional survey was distributed electronically to members of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry between February and May 2021. The questions and scenarios were based on antibiotic prescribing guidelines in the UK. Results Two hundred and six dentists completed the survey (45% response rate). Most participants (93%) conformed to guidelines and prescribed amoxicillin as a first-line antibiotic for an odontogenic infection. For patients with a penicillin allergy, 16% of dentists reported clindamycin as their first-choice antibiotic. Seventeen per cent of those surveyed stated that they would prescribe antibiotics for local swelling without any additional factors indicating a persistent or spreading bacterial infection. Further insights into prescribing practices for prophylaxis, paediatric doses and non-clinical factors are described. Conclusions Antibiotics are part of the armamentarium that dentists can use to treat patients. The results of this survey highlight some positive trends as well as some variation in prescribing practice that requires correction and discussion for future research.