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The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotics prescribed by general dental practitioners (GDPs). Adult antibiotic prescriptions issued by GDPs from 10 Health Authorities (HAs) in England were analysed. The type of antibiotic prescribed, dose, frequency and duration were investigated. Most of the 17007 prescriptions were for generic antibiotics; nine different antibiotics were prescribed. Many practitioners prescribed antibiotics inappropriately with inconsistent frequency and dose, and for prolonged periods.

Objective: To study the use of prophylactic antibiotics by general dental practitioners.Design: A postal questionnaire of National Health Service (NHS) general dental practitioners in ten English Health Authorities.Subjects: General dental practitioners (GDPs) (1544) contracted to provide NHS treatment in the Health Authorities of Liverpool, Wirral, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Nottingham, North Nottinghamshire, Sheffield, Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside.Main Outcome Measures: The questionnaires were analysed and the responses to each question expressed as absolute frequencies.Results: Responses to the questionnaires were received from 929 (60.1%) practitioners. Over 40% of general dental practitioners would prescribe prophylactic antibiotics for patients with no relevant medical history for minor oral surgery to prevent postoperative infection. Amoxicillin was the predominant choice of antibiotic in this situation. Between 15-67% of GDPs failed to prescribe prophylactic antibiotics for at risk medically compromised patients. GDPs also prescribed for patients with a medical history not known to be at risk from dental procedures. Over 50% of GDPs however, would seek specialist advice about prophylaxis if they were unsure of the indications and over 90% of GDPs indicated they would use the current recommended regime for antibiotic prophylaxis for patients at risk of infective endocarditis.Conclusions: The evidence from this study suggests that a significant number of the practitioners surveyed prescribe prophylactic antibiotics inappropriately, both for surgical procedures and for patients at risk from endocarditis. There is also evidence that practitioners prescribe antibiotic prophylaxis for clinical procedures and medical conditions for which there is little evidence. The results suggest that there is a need for the development of guidelines for practitioners on the appropriate prophylactic use of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to assess the level of involvement of general dental practitioners in postgraduate education and training, identify their speciality interests, preferred format of course presentation and assess the potential demand for modular postgraduate programmes. A questionnaire analysis of a one in three random sample of general dental practitioners on Health Authority lists in the North West of England and North Wales was designed and carried out. Out of a random sample of 799, 552 GDPs completed an anonymous questionnaire in 1998 which investigated their current postgraduate activity, the areas of specialist interest and their interest in extended modular postgraduate education courses with associated summative assessment. Fifty three percent of respondents attended more than four postgraduate sessions per year of whom the majority (59%) were in 35-44 year old age group. 79% identified Section 63 courses as their first preference and 63% preferred mixed didactic and 'hands on' courses. Seventy five percent of respondents expressed an interest in attending modular programmes which might lead to a postgraduate qualification. In conclusion, an enthusiasm to attend existing postgraduate courses was identified but a demand was also perceived for courses of longer duration possibly leading to additional postgraduate qualifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor in response to the article "An Outcome Audit of the Treatment of Acute Dentoalveolar Infection: Impact of Penicillin Resistance."

Background There is increasing evidence of the inappropriate use of antimicrobials in dentistry and this may contribute to the problem of antimicrobial resistance. The research to date with regard to efficacy of antimicrobial prophylaxis in reducing failure of integration and postoperative complications when placing dental implants remains equivocal. The aim of this study was to investigate how dentists in the UK use antimicrobials prophylactically in implant practice.Method An e-mail link was provided in 2011 to an anonymous online (Smart-Survey) questionnaire using three databases of dentists who, by being on them, had registered an interest in placing dental implants. Absolute frequencies were used to describe the study sample demographics and examine the distribution of responses for all the variables investigated.Results One hundred and nine completed questionnaires were received. Seventy-two percent (n = 76) routinely prescribed prophylactic antibiotics for all procedures. There was a wide variation in the pre-operative and postoperative prescription regimens with the majority (84%) stating that it was to prevent infection at the site of surgery or to reduce a bacteraemia.Conclusions Although this was a small study with a low response rate, wide variations in antibiotic prescribing regimens with respect to drug, dose and duration were found. Further research is needed and guidelines developed to prevent antibiotic overprescribing and misuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate current endodontic clinical practice in the north west of England and evaluate practitioner's training needs.Method A questionnaire was posted to 702 primary care dentists in the north west of England in January 2006. The questionnaire investigated aspects of dentists' endodontic clinical practice, the provision of endodontics within their practice, their recent postgraduate training in endodontics and their training needs.Results Responses to the questionnaire were received from 498 (70.9%) primary care dentists, of which 449 questionnaires contained useful information. Only 30% of respondents use rubber dam for isolation in all endodontic cases. The majority used radiographs either as the only method for establishing the working length (57.3%) or in conjunction with an apex locator (34.5%). Most dentists used sodium hypochlorite solution as an irrigant during the root canal treatment. Almost 55% used a combination of conventional hand files and rotary files to prepare root canals. Fifty-eight percent used the crown down technique while 35% used the step back technique for canal preparation. Almost two-thirds routinely used non-setting calcium hydroxide as an intra-canal medicament. Lateral condensation technique was the popular obturation method and the vast majority of respondents routinely took postoperative radiographs. Almost 25% of respondents had not received any teaching or training in endodontics in the past two years.Conclusions The results of this study suggest that primary care dentists in the north west of England have embraced modern techniques and follow most aspects of accepted endodontic practice. Despite the majority having postgraduate training in the last two years, only a minority used rubber dam routinely for endodontic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesTo investigate, by questionnaire, the use and selection of materials and techniques for indirect restorations and fixed prosthodontics by dental practitioners in the North West of England and Scotland.MethodsA questionnaire was sent to 1,000 general dental practitioners selected at random from dentists in Scotland and the North West of England. Non-responders were sent another questionnaire after a period of 4 weeks had elapsed.ResultsA total of 701 usable questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 70%. When selecting a material for the core build-up of vital teeth practitioners used the following materials (%): amalgam (60), dual and light-cured resin composite (54), glass-ionomer cements (47), compomer (29) and resin-modified glass-ionomer cements (24). Where the use of a post was indicated indirect posts of both precious (67) and non-precious (37) alloys were preferred to prefabricated posts by the majority of practitioners for the restoration of root filled teeth. Direct titanium (14) and stainless steel (14) posts were not used extensively. Impression materials used by the practitioners were as follows: addition-cured silicone (70), condensation-cured silicone (20), polyether (9) and polysulphide (2). Traditional glass-ionomer cements (59) were used for the luting of single and multiple porcelain fused to metal units, with zinc phosphate and polycarboxylate cements (33) being the preferred alternatives.ConclusionsThe majority of the practitioners surveyed in this study used: amalgam for core build-ups; indirect posts; addition-cured silicone for impressions; and glass-ionomer cements for luting procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]