The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Kansas Dental Association (KDA) support prudent use of antibiotics to minimize the risk of adverse effects and development of drug-resistant bacteria.

According to the CDC, more than 2 million infections and 23,000 deaths occur each year due to antibiotic resistance.

As such, we would like to remind dentists that antibiotic prophylaxis should be reserved for patients at high risk of post-treatment complications.

Several fact sheets and other resources are provided below:

• Seven Ways Dentists Can Act Against Antibiotic Resistance
• Checklist for Antibiotic Prescribing in Dentistry
• Antibiotic Stewardship Initiative for Outpatient Healthcare
• Is it Really a Penicillin Allergy?
• ADA Oral Health Topics: Antibiotic Stewardship
• ADA "Antibiotics and Dental Treatment" Brochure