Combating Antibiotic Resistance: How Can Dentists Contribute?
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is one of the greatest global health threats today. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the inappropriate and excessive use of these medicines accelerates the development of antibiotic resistance. Can dentists contribute to addressing this problem?
Antibiotics have been saving lives from potentially fatal bacterial infections for almost 80 years. However, estimates for the European Union / European Economic Area (EU/EEA) alone indicate that more than 670,000 infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria occur every year, resulting in approximately 33,000 deaths.
According to various scientific estimates, the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in Europe ranges from 5% to 45%, while as many as one-third of antibiotic prescriptions may be unnecessarily prescribed by physicians. This highlights the need not only to educate patients about antibiotic-related issues, but also to provide healthcare professionals with up-to-date information on managing patients without antibiotics when their use is not clinically necessary.
When antibiotics are not needed, choose Fitodenta
It is common for dentists to prescribe painkillers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or antimicrobial medicines following surgery. Edvinas Mileris, an implant surgeon practising in Vilnius, Lithuania, and London, United Kingdom, notes that dentists could make a meaningful contribution to reducing the use of NSAIDs and antibiotics by avoiding their prescription in certain cases when appropriate alternatives for supporting recovery after dental surgery are available.
“Dentists often prescribe antibiotics to patients to prevent potential infections, but these unnecessary prescriptions can cause significant harm. It is important to remember that antibiotics affect not only harmful bacteria that may cause infections, but also beneficial bacteria that help protect our bodies from disease and other health problems. Another major global issue is the increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics as a result of the overuse of these medicines in different areas,” says Dr Mileris.
There are, of course, situations in which antibiotics are necessary. However, Dr Mileris notes that even when circumstances do not require them, clinicians may be concerned about potential complications during healing and therefore see antibiotics as the only option.
“Doctors need to know that in cases where antibiotics are not necessary, there are other measures that can help manage the risk of potential infections without resorting to these medicines,” says implantologist Dr Mileris.
A team of Lithuanian biotechnology scientists developed Fitodenta products to support recovery following dental surgery. The unique formulation combines cannabinoids that work synergistically with other botanically derived active ingredients whose therapeutic properties are described in the European Pharmacopoeia.
“For example, if the guidelines and the patient’s condition do not require antibiotics, but I am still considering whether to prescribe them, I choose non-harmful alternatives. I have been recommending these products to my patients for five years and, so far, they have always worked,” says Dr Mileris. He adds that Fitodenta products help reduce the risk of complications following dental surgery or other surgical interventions, as their ingredients have anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and healing-supporting properties, with their effects supported by clinical research.
Are antibiotics prescribed “just to be safe”?
Dr Mileris shares his experience of avoiding unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. “We all need to understand that bacterial resistance is a global problem. At the individual level, antibiotics can also contribute to various other health problems, such as disruption of the microbiota and other effects. The fewer unnecessary antibiotics we use, the better,” he says.
One example from the everyday practice of an implantologist is a standard dental implant procedure without bone augmentation, where antibiotics may not be required.
“Sometimes, even after such a procedure, mild gum inflammation and swelling can occur, which may make the healing process slightly more difficult. Young implantologists in particular can become concerned in these situations and prescribe antibiotics because they fear a possible infection. In such cases, I can confidently recommend Fitodenta products, which help address these issues and support the healing process,” says Dr Mileris.
If a patient is offered an alternative approach, such as Fitodenta products, the clinician should explain why antimicrobial medicines are not currently indicated and discuss the potential benefits of the plant-based products.
When antibiotics cannot be avoided
If a dental implant procedure is complex and involves bone augmentation, antibiotics may be necessary. In some cases, discomfort following dental implant placement can persist for up to two weeks. “Together with my colleagues, we conducted a clinical study to evaluate this ourselves. Following more complex dental implant procedures, Fitodenta products significantly reduced pain and swelling, and when used alongside conventional post-operative medicines, including antibiotics, the recovery process improved by up to 40%,” says Dr Mileris.
Various data indicate that bacterial resistance to antibiotics remains one of the most significant global health challenges. Although healthcare professionals are increasingly aware of the issue, there is still room for improvement in taking responsibility and helping patients recover without antibiotics whenever their use is not clinically necessary.
When antibiotics cannot be avoided, clinicians should remind patients of the essential rules for their use: take antibiotics only when prescribed by a healthcare professional; complete the prescribed course and do not stop taking them simply because you feel better; do not use antibiotics left over from previous treatments; and never share or take antibiotics prescribed for someone else.
WHO reminds us that antibiotic resistance can affect anyone, of any age, in any country. Antibiotic resistance leads to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality. Responsible antibiotic use is therefore everyone’s contribution to preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics and reducing the rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance.
About the product
Fitodenta is an innovative oral care solution developed by Lithuanian health innovation experts and evaluated in clinical consumer studies to support oral recovery following dental procedures. The set consists of two products: an oral spray and a cosmetic gel. Clinical consumer studies indicated that the best results were achieved when both products were used together – the spray inside the oral cavity on the affected gums and mucosa, and the gel externally on the swollen area. The products are intended for use after tooth extraction, implant placement and other dental procedures associated with temporary oral discomfort and swelling. The patent-pending formulations are based on naturally derived botanical ingredients. Fitodenta products are intended for oral care and are classified as cosmetic products.
Antibiotics have been saving lives from potentially fatal bacterial infections for almost 80 years. However, estimates for the European Union / European Economic Area (EU/EEA) alone indicate that more than 670,000 infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria occur every year, resulting in approximately 33,000 deaths.
According to various scientific estimates, the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in Europe ranges from 5% to 45%, while as many as one-third of antibiotic prescriptions may be unnecessarily prescribed by physicians. This highlights the need not only to educate patients about antibiotic-related issues, but also to provide healthcare professionals with up-to-date information on managing patients without antibiotics when their use is not clinically necessary.
When antibiotics are not needed, choose Fitodenta
It is common for dentists to prescribe painkillers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or antimicrobial medicines following surgery. Edvinas Mileris, an implant surgeon practising in Vilnius, Lithuania, and London, United Kingdom, notes that dentists could make a meaningful contribution to reducing the use of NSAIDs and antibiotics by avoiding their prescription in certain cases when appropriate alternatives for supporting recovery after dental surgery are available.
“Dentists often prescribe antibiotics to patients to prevent potential infections, but these unnecessary prescriptions can cause significant harm. It is important to remember that antibiotics affect not only harmful bacteria that may cause infections, but also beneficial bacteria that help protect our bodies from disease and other health problems. Another major global issue is the increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics as a result of the overuse of these medicines in different areas,” says Dr Mileris.
There are, of course, situations in which antibiotics are necessary. However, Dr Mileris notes that even when circumstances do not require them, clinicians may be concerned about potential complications during healing and therefore see antibiotics as the only option.
“Doctors need to know that in cases where antibiotics are not necessary, there are other measures that can help manage the risk of potential infections without resorting to these medicines,” says implantologist Dr Mileris.
A team of Lithuanian biotechnology scientists developed Fitodenta products to support recovery following dental surgery. The unique formulation combines cannabinoids that work synergistically with other botanically derived active ingredients whose therapeutic properties are described in the European Pharmacopoeia.
“For example, if the guidelines and the patient’s condition do not require antibiotics, but I am still considering whether to prescribe them, I choose non-harmful alternatives. I have been recommending these products to my patients for five years and, so far, they have always worked,” says Dr Mileris. He adds that Fitodenta products help reduce the risk of complications following dental surgery or other surgical interventions, as their ingredients have anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and healing-supporting properties, with their effects supported by clinical research.
Are antibiotics prescribed “just to be safe”?
Dr Mileris shares his experience of avoiding unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. “We all need to understand that bacterial resistance is a global problem. At the individual level, antibiotics can also contribute to various other health problems, such as disruption of the microbiota and other effects. The fewer unnecessary antibiotics we use, the better,” he says.
One example from the everyday practice of an implantologist is a standard dental implant procedure without bone augmentation, where antibiotics may not be required.
“Sometimes, even after such a procedure, mild gum inflammation and swelling can occur, which may make the healing process slightly more difficult. Young implantologists in particular can become concerned in these situations and prescribe antibiotics because they fear a possible infection. In such cases, I can confidently recommend Fitodenta products, which help address these issues and support the healing process,” says Dr Mileris.
If a patient is offered an alternative approach, such as Fitodenta products, the clinician should explain why antimicrobial medicines are not currently indicated and discuss the potential benefits of the plant-based products.
When antibiotics cannot be avoided
If a dental implant procedure is complex and involves bone augmentation, antibiotics may be necessary. In some cases, discomfort following dental implant placement can persist for up to two weeks. “Together with my colleagues, we conducted a clinical study to evaluate this ourselves. Following more complex dental implant procedures, Fitodenta products significantly reduced pain and swelling, and when used alongside conventional post-operative medicines, including antibiotics, the recovery process improved by up to 40%,” says Dr Mileris.
Various data indicate that bacterial resistance to antibiotics remains one of the most significant global health challenges. Although healthcare professionals are increasingly aware of the issue, there is still room for improvement in taking responsibility and helping patients recover without antibiotics whenever their use is not clinically necessary.
When antibiotics cannot be avoided, clinicians should remind patients of the essential rules for their use: take antibiotics only when prescribed by a healthcare professional; complete the prescribed course and do not stop taking them simply because you feel better; do not use antibiotics left over from previous treatments; and never share or take antibiotics prescribed for someone else.
WHO reminds us that antibiotic resistance can affect anyone, of any age, in any country. Antibiotic resistance leads to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality. Responsible antibiotic use is therefore everyone’s contribution to preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics and reducing the rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance.
About the product
Fitodenta is an innovative oral care solution developed by Lithuanian health innovation experts and evaluated in clinical consumer studies to support oral recovery following dental procedures. The set consists of two products: an oral spray and a cosmetic gel. Clinical consumer studies indicated that the best results were achieved when both products were used together – the spray inside the oral cavity on the affected gums and mucosa, and the gel externally on the swollen area. The products are intended for use after tooth extraction, implant placement and other dental procedures associated with temporary oral discomfort and swelling. The patent-pending formulations are based on naturally derived botanical ingredients. Fitodenta products are intended for oral care and are classified as cosmetic products.
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