Antibiotic stewardship continues to be critical topic in dentistry
Experts, including Thomas Paumier, D.D.S., who was recently installed as the 163rd president of the ADA, have promoted more widespread participation in antibiotic stewardship throughout the dental and medical workforce.
A recent letter from U.S. Rep. J. Luis Correa, D-Calif., addressed to dental and medical associations such as the ADA, California Dental Association, American Medical Association and California Medical Association, called attention to the need to educate members about the potential risks of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, which can lead to the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and life-threatening infections, according to a news article from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.
Singled out in the letter was clindamycin, an antibiotic that is still commonly used in dentistry but carries a U.S. Food and Drug Administration black box warning for Clostridioides difficile infections that can adversely affect the intestinal lining. As a result, Mr. Correa suggested that when dental professionals decide to prescribe clindamycin, they should make an informed decision and educate their patients of its possible harms.
Although Dr. Paumier — who has championed changes to antibiotic guidance and has planned to make the topic an area of focus during his term — agreed with Mr. Correa’s advocacy for antibiotic stewardship, he emphasized that many dentists still follow antibiotic guidance they learned in dental school.
“As dentists, we have a duty to consider the potential harm of any intervention we undertake,” Dr. Paumier underscored. “Yet, do we consider the risks of writing a prescription for antibiotics each time we use them? Probably not. Many of us were taught that antibiotics only help patients, and the harm, if any, is less than the potential benefit.”
A recent report found that overall antibiotic prescribing has declined over the past five years, whereas antibiotic prescribing in dentistry increased by more than 5% between 2020 and 2025. Dr. Paumier noted that the ADA continues to look for opportunities to reach more dentists across the United States through educational sessions and to prioritize the more judicious use of antibiotics.
In 2026, the ADA published a clinical practice statement on antibiotic stewardship and a position statement on the recommended use of antibiotics for patients with prosthetic joint replacements. Dr. Paumier detailed that upcoming guidance from the ADA will cover antibiotic prescribing for dental implants and tooth extractions.
Read more: CIDRAP
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