Leading UK dental health bodies urge professionals and patients to #keepantibioticsworking

The Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP(UK)) is working with the Association of Clinical Oral Microbiologists (ACOM), the British Dental Association (BDA), Public Health England, Health Protection Scotland, Public Health Wales, the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy and the Antibiotic Action initiative, to ask members to join a social media ‘Thunderclap’ on 18 November. The consortium is also asking oral health professionals to demonstrate their commitment to responsible antibiotic prescribing by signing a pledge on the Antibiotic Prescribing Pledge webpage and commit to promoting prevention to children and their families to reduce decay, dental infections and the possible resultant use of antibiotics.

Over 30,000 children under 9 years old were admitted to hospital last year because of dental decay. There is evidence of inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics to children, particularly those referred to hospital for dental treatment under general anesthesia. Dentists can help by delivering a clear message about prevention to families on the importance of good dental health and dental infection prevention, particularly while children are very young. This will decrease dental decay, reduce the likelihood of dental infections and the need for tooth extractions under general anesthesia resulting in reduced antibiotic prescribing to children and antimicrobial resistance.