Adjunctive and Prophylactic Use of Antibacterial Agents in Dentistry
Antibacterial Drug-resistance

The widespread and ever increasing use of antibacterial agents contributes to the development of antibacterial drug-resistance.^{104,109,133-145} Unless healthcare providers change their practices, many currently available antibacterial agents may become ineffective. In a retrospective cohort study assessing 168,420 prophylactic prescriptions prescribed in dental practice, the authors determined 80.9% of the prescriptions were unnecessary.¹⁴⁶ When antibacterial agents are used appropriately to treat complicated odontogenic infections or to prevent infections in high-risk patients, clinicians must accept the ecological consequences of antibacterial chemotherapy. However, when other therapeutic means are available, antibacterial agents should not be routinely prescribed to treat or to prevent infections.