ArticleBMC oral health2019
A survey of prescribing practices by general dentists in Australia.
Article in BMC oral health, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 39 papers.
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Who cites it
39 citing papers in PubMed, 74 citations in OpenAlex.
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- Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns for Pulpitis in Pediatric Dentistry: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- A Cross-Sectional Survey of Orthodontic Retention Practices and Opinions Among General Dental Practitioners in Australia.Clinical and experimental dental research · 2026Article
- Patients' satisfaction with dental services provided by public outpatient clinics in Aden Governorate, Yemen.BMC oral health · 2026Article
- Trends of Dispensed Opioids Prescribed by Australian Dentists: 2013-2022.Community dentistry and oral epidemiology · 2026Article
- Association between dentists' awareness of antimicrobial resistance and selection of oral third-generation cephalosporins: a cross-sectional study.Antimicrobial stewardship & healthcare epidemiology : ASHE · 2026Article
- Over-Prescription of Antibiotics for Pulpitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional Surveys.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- A Cross-Sectional Survey of Dentists on Antibiotic Prescribing and Allergy Management in Oral Surgery.Oral health & preventive dentistry · 2025Article
- Rational antibiotic prescribing practices among dentists in Turkey: a cross-sectional study.BMC oral health · 2025Article
- Acceptability and usability of Drugs4dentBMC oral health · 2025Article
- Adherence to the current guidelines on antibiotic prescription among dental practitioners: A national survey.PloS one · 2025Article
- A Cross-Sectional Survey of the Use of Clear Aligners by General Dentists in Australia.Clinical and experimental dental research · 2024Article
- Antibiotic prescribing patterns among dentists in Italy and Albania: A comparative questionnaire analysis.Heliyon · 2024Article
- Alternatives to β-Lactams as Agents for the Management of Dentoalveolar Abscess.Current topics in medicinal chemistry · 2024Review
- How decisions are made: Antibiotic stewardship in dentistry.Infection control and hospital epidemiology · 2023Article
- Medical profile of patients referred to an Australian postgraduate oral surgery clinic.Clinical and experimental dental research · 2023Article
- Antibiotics in Dentistry: A Narrative Review of the Evidence beyond the Myth.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Review
- Design of proxy indicators estimating the appropriateness of antibiotics prescribed by French dentists: a cross-sectional study based on reimbursement data.Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy · 2023Article
- Characteristics of dentists and patients associated with appropriate antibiotic prescriptions by French dentists: a cross-sectional study using Health Insurance databases.BMC oral health · 2023Article
- Australian dental students' knowledge on antibiotics prophylaxis for dental procedures.BMC oral health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNumerous studies of dental antibiotic prescribing show that overprescribing is a worldwide occurrence. The aim of this study was to assess prescribing practices of general dentists in Australia for antibiotics, analgesics and anxiolytics and to determine the extent to which prescribing is in accordance with current guidelines.
methodsA structured questionnaire was sent to 1468 dentists in Victoria and Queensland in July-August 2018. The questionnaire covered demographics, clinical conditions where dentists prescribe antibiotics, non-clinical factors which influence prescribing, and medicines for anxiolysis and pain relief. Responses were scored using a system based on the current Australian therapeutic guidelines. Logistic regression was used to determine the relative importance of independent variables on inappropriate prescribing.
resultsThree hundred eighty-two responses were received. Overall, 55% of overprescribing of antibiotics was detected, with a range of 13-88% on a routine or occasional basis depending on the scenario. Between 16 and 27% of respondents inappropriately preferenced analgesics over anti-inflammatories for dental pain; 46% of those who prescribed anxiolytic medicines did so inappropriately, with varying regimens and choices outside the guidelines. Years of practice was the main demographic factor influencing prescribing, with recent graduates (0-5 years) generally scoring better than their colleagues for antibiotic prescribing (p < 0.05).
conclusionsFuture interventions could be directed towards the appropriate role and use of antibiotics, shortfalls in knowledge and appropriate choices of medicines for pain relief and anxiolysis. Given that the most overprescribing occurred for localised swellings (88%), this area could be focused on in continuing education as well as ensuring it is addressed in undergraduate teaching. Continuing education on the appropriate use of medicines can be targeted at more experienced dentists as well as patients, especially those who expect antibiotics instead of treatment.
trial registrationUniversity of Melbourne Human Ethics Sub-Committee; ID: 1750768.1 .
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