Antibiotic prophylaxis during dental implant surgery treatment in northwest China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

This study was designed to investigate the existing status of antibiotic prophylaxis during dental implant surgery in northwest China.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted based on a web survey following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. The questionnaire comprised the basic information of respondents, the awareness of antibiotic prophylaxis, and the antimicrobial prescription habits of dentists performing dental implants. The questionnaire was sent individually to 2,099 dentists who performed dental implants in northwest China from April to December 2021. Data were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 318 participants responded to the survey. Of the respondents, 65.41% (n = 208) routinely prescribed antibiotics during dental implant surgery, while only 0.94% (n = 3) did not prescribe them. A total of 141 (44.40%) respondents reported concerns regarding the indications for antibiotic use. The most frequently used antibiotics included penicillins, cephalosporins, and nitroimidazoles. Respondents were inclined to prolong antibiotics routinely for more than 24 h, specifically in patients with bone grafts, which reached 85.08%.

CONCLUSION

Antibiotics are widely used to prevent infection during dental implant surgery in northwest China. Dentists are inclined to prolong the course of antibiotics routinely, both in healthy individuals and patients with bone grafts.