Antibiotic prescription pattern for endodontic treatment by general dental practitioners in Isfahan, Iran

Antibiotics are widely prescribed in dentistry. However, the indications of antibiotic therapy are limited, especially in endodontics. There is little information available concerning the pattern of antibiotic prescription among dentists. The aim of this study was to evaluate and determine pattern of antibiotic prescription among general dental practitioners in Isfahan, Iran. In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, 280 general dental practitioners of Isfahan were included. A questionnaire containing 15 questions was prepared. Before the study was initiated the reliability and reproducibility of the questionnaire were determined. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistical tests using SPSS software. For non-allergic patients, amoxicillin 500 mg, 3 times daily (63.3%) and penicillin VK 500 mg, 4 times daily (11.4%), were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics, respectively. For patients allergic to penicillins, clindamycin 300 mg, 4 times daily (39.3%) and erythromycin 400 mg, 4 times daily (28.2%), were the first and second antibiotic choices. An initial double dose was prescribed by 39.3% of the subjects. Painful irreversible pulpitis without apical periodontitis (5.7%) and necrotic pulp with acute apical abscess (85%) were the least and the most common cases in which antibiotics were prescribed, respectively. Most of the participants prescribed antibiotics for a proper duration. However, most dentists were not aware of how to prescribe antibiotics. It seems that it is necessary to improve the knowledge of dental practitioners concerning the patterns of antibiotic prescription through continuous education programs.