Overprescription of antibiotics in Brazilian dental clinics: an evaluation of current practices

The use of antibiotics by dentist surgeons faces a lack of consensus among professionals and researchers, whether in relation to prophylaxis, or at least regarding the real need for their use. Recent studies increasingly question the use of prophylactic antibiotic therapy in healthy patients. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of dentist surgeons working in offices across Brazil regarding antibiotic use protocols and antibiotic resistance. A questionnaire was made via Google Forms and sent by email. The results showed that most dentists prescribe antibiotics for all surgical procedures performed in their office, regardless of the complexity and the patient. Furthermore, low scientific basis was observed among some of the professionals interviewed regarding the best therapeutic choice and the role of antibiotics in the surgical procedure. The present study highlights the urgent need to improve the knowledge of these professionals in Brazil, to reduce the impact on antibiotic resistance.