Antimicrobial Perspective in Dentistry

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 1015

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Private Practice, Messina, Italy
2. Department of Biomedicine and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40125 Bologna, Italy
Interests: dentistry
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The microorganic pattern of the oral cavity strictly depends on the interactions between the human body and the external environment, and its qualitative and quantitative alterations result in most dental and mouth diseases. The complexity and variability of the micro-community weaken the efficacy of chemical and physical antimicrobial agents, often limiting clinical approaches to surgical and structural corrections of impaired tissues. The oral hygiene recommendation contrasts with the ongoing irrational abuse of antibiotics prescriptions. Without a fundamental causal approach to an infectious problem, sometimes it is mandatory to interfere with medical treatments for systemic pathologies or renounce dental therapies so as not to compromise general health conditions.

Although challenging, the study of the antimicrobic approach will contribute to making dentistry a more and more scientific discipline.

The generical "antimicrobial" term defines the killing or replication-stopping effect that impacts all microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and mitis, via different actions, such as antibiosis, antisepsis, and disinfection. Improving knowledge of oral microbiota would make it possible to find an adequate antimicrobial weapon for every situation, reducing antibiotic use to the correct indications.

Probiotics, photodynamic therapy, and antimicrobial peptides have been investigated to control oral infections. Nanoengineering strategies can help carry the antimicrobial agent to where its action is needed without damaging other areas.

We invite our colleagues to contribute to this Special Issue that involves, transversely, all the disciplines of oral and dental diseases, hoping to stimulate the relevant research and move towards new therapeutics prospectives.

Dr. Giuseppe Lizio
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • mouth diseases
  • oral microbial environment
  • antimicrobial approach

Published Papers (1 paper)

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17 pages, 2819 KiB  
Systematic Review
Antibiotic Over-Prescription by Dentists in the Treatment of Apical Periodontitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Juan A. Méndez-Millán, María León-López, Jenifer Martín-González, Juan J. Saúco-Márquez, Daniel Cabanillas-Balsera and Juan J. Segura-Egea
Antibiotics 2024, 13(4), 289; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/antibiotics13040289 - 22 Mar 2024
Viewed by 793
Abstract
After pulp infection and necrosis, the passage of microbial antigens into the periapical space causes apical periodontitis (AP). Most of the clinical forms of AP can be managed without prescribing antibiotics, only with root canal treatment and abscess drainage or, where appropriate, tooth [...] Read more.
After pulp infection and necrosis, the passage of microbial antigens into the periapical space causes apical periodontitis (AP). Most of the clinical forms of AP can be managed without prescribing antibiotics, only with root canal treatment and abscess drainage or, where appropriate, tooth extraction. However, the scientific literature provides evidence of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions by dentists in the management of apical disease. Objectives: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze the global pattern of antibiotic prescription in the treatment of apical disease. Methods: PRISMA Guidelines were followed to carry out this systematic review. The research question was as follows: What is the pattern of antibiotic prescription by dentists in the treatment of the different clinical forms of apical periodontitis? A systematic search was conducted on MEDLINE/PubMed, Wiley Online Database, Web of Science and Scopus. All studies reporting data about the pattern of antibiotic prescription by dentists in the treatment of apical disease were included. The meta-analyses were calculated using the Open Meta Analyst version 10.10 software. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. The certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Results: The search strategy identified 96 articles and thirty-nine cross-sectional studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The overall percentage of antibiotic prescriptions by dentists in cases of symptomatic AP was 25.8%, and 31.5% in cases of asymptomatic AP with sinus tract present. The percentage of dentists prescribing antibiotics in cases of acute apical abscess with no/mild symptoms was 47.7%, whereas, in cases of acute apical abscess with moderate/severe symptoms, 88.8% of dentists would prescribe antibiotics. Endodontists prescribe antibiotics at a lower rate than general practitioners. The total risk of bias was considered moderate, and the final rating for the certainty of the evidence was low. Conclusions: Dentists worldwide are over-prescribing antibiotics in the management of apical disease. It is necessary to improve antibiotic prescribing habits in the treatment of endodontic infections, as well as educational initiatives to encourage the rational and appropriate prescription of antibiotics in periapical diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Perspective in Dentistry)
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