Prescription of Prophylactic Antibiotic in Dental Implant among Saudi Population

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed to find out the awareness among the dental practitioners using American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for dental implants and for prescribing the dosage of Antibiotic Prophylaxis (AP) as per the AHA guidelines. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire projected across the Saudi Arabia among practicing dentists (general and specialists) and dental students (final year undergraduate and postgraduate). The questionnaire was distributed to 1000 dental practitioners, who willingly consented to participate in the study. The questionnaire consists of 11 (either multiple choice or dichotomous) questions regarding the awareness and practice of AHA guidelines for dental implants and prescribing AP pre- or post-dental implants. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21. A chi-square test was performed with both descriptive and inferential statistics. The level of significance was P ≤0.05. Results: Total responses from 893 (89.3%) participants were received and were considered for statistical analysis. Male and female participants were 485 (54.3%) and 408 (45.7%), respectively. The majority of the participants responded wrongly for prescribing AP for dental implants as a routine practice, immediate implant, and immediate implant with systemic disease. However, the majority of the practitioners responded correctly in prescribing amoxicillin as the first line of AP to be used during implants but with the wrong dosage of the drug. Moreover, more than half of the practitioners answered correctly for prescribing AP to post-operation. The primary factors in prescribing AP for dental implants were selected wrong by a significant number of practitioners. To increase the success of the dental implants, an overwhelming number of the practitioners answered correctly by opting for pre operation use of AP. Conclusion: The present study outlines and indicates the lack of awareness of AHA recommendations and guidelines among dental practitioners in KSA. Besides, it recorded a high number of AP prescriptions during dental implant placement as a routine practice without any supporting evidence.