UK Specialists’ and GDPs’ Use of Systemic and Local Antimicrobial Administration in Periodontal Therapy: A Questionnaire Study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of antimicrobials, the prescription patterns and the reason(s) for prescribing antimicrobials when treating periodontal disease in selected UK General Dental Practitioner (GDP) and Periodontal Specialists. Materials & Methods: The questionnaire consisted of 21 questions and was sent to 488 Periodontal Specialists and 488 GDPs. Data management and analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel, SPSS® version 22.0 software and frequency distributions, cross tabulation tables and graphs were constructed from the data. Any association between variables was tested at the 5 % level of significance (P≤ 0.05). Results: The questionnaires were completed by the Specialists (38.72%) (n=189) and 23.36% (n=114) of the GDPs. The results indicated that the use of systemic and local antimicrobials followed the current guidelines. Specialists prescribed more systemic antimicrobials than the GDPs, although Specialists limited the use of local antimicrobials. The GDPs reported that decision making was difficult when to use local antimicrobials although recognised that using local antimicrobials were more effective than root surface debridement alone. Other reasons for using antimicrobials were based either on the patient request or patient satisfaction with the treatment. Lower frequency of antimicrobial use was reported in regeneration and implant procedures by both Specialists and GDPs although the Specialists were more inclined to use antibiotics/antimicrobials in these procedures. Conclusions: The results of the study suggested that there was a need for dentists to follow current guidelines when prescribing antibiotics/antimicrobials in order to avoid unnecessary prescriptions, antibiotic resistance and adverse drug reactions.