Evaluation of Antibiotic Prescription for Dental Implant Success: A Review Publisher

Summary: Are dentists overprescribing antibiotics for dental implants? Research suggests 81% do so without strict guidelines, highlighting a gap between practice and evidence. #DentalHealth #AntibioticUse

Dehghani N ; Azarsina M ; Mahmoudi X
Source: Journal of Craniomaxillofacial Research Published:2025

Abstract

Introduction: This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotics, particularly those administered preoperatively and postoperatively, in enhancing the success rates of dental implants. Additionally, it seeks to compare current opinions toward antibiotic usage in implant dentistry with documented outcomes of implant success, both with and without antibiotic inter-vention. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search using the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases, incorporating studies published between 2010 and Jan-uary 2023. Search terms included “dental implant,” “antibiotic,” “prophylaxis,” and “survey.” Data analysis and graphical representations were generated using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software. Results: The findings indicate that 81.1% of surveyed dentists routinely prescribe antibiotic prophylaxis for patients undergoing dental implant procedures, irrespective of health status. An additional 5.8% of practitioners tailored their antibiotic prescriptions based on modifiable factors. The initial database search yielded 220 relevant articles from Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, which were screened for alignment with the review objectives. Among antibiotics, penicillin and phenoxymethylpenicillin were identified as the preferred first-line medications. Conclusion: Cross-sectional surveys across various countries reveal a tendency among dentists to prescribe systemic antibiotic prophylaxis for dental implant surgeries without adhering strictly to evidence-based guidelines, often resulting in overprescription. This highlights a critical need for collaboration among dental educators and practitioners to align clinical practices with scientific evidence regarding antibiotic prophylaxis in implant dentistry. © 2025 Tehran University of Medical Sciences.