Targets in Dental Antibiotic Use: Current Prescribing Trends, Optimizing Treatment for Patient Safety, and Implementation of Stewardship Programs

As one of the top prescribers of antibiotics in the United States, dental practitioners have a responsibility to ensure optimized and evidence-based use. Join pharmacy experts from the Arizona Department of Health Services for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of antibiotic recommendations for common dental scenarios. Attendees will also gain practical communication strategies and tools to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&39;s Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship, protecting both their patients and their practice from the risks of antibiotic overuse.

Learning Objectives:
- Describe current antibiotic prescribing trends among dental practitioners and key areas for antimicrobial stewardship interventions
- Identify non-antibiotic pharmacologic management strategies for dental pain
- Evaluate current evidence-based antimicrobial prophylaxis recommendations in patients with risk factors for infective endocarditis and prosthetic joint infections
- Consider the optimal antibiotic approaches for patients with reported penicillin allergy
- Review components of an antimicrobial stewardship program in dental settings
- Discuss patient communication strategies to promote antimicrobial stewardship