Root canal therapy is intended to treat and prevent infection of the root canal system, so many patients wonder why their general dentist or endodontist does not prescribe antibiotics in addition to root canal therapy. If a patient has a significantly compromised immune system or signs of a systemic infection, antibiotics are a way to give our body an edge over a potential infection. However, a healthy human body has an excellent immune system and most of the time our host response do a good job to eliminate any bacteria that is not taken care of by root canal treatment. For almost a century, antibiotic therapy has saved millions of lives and has led to a general increase in the quality of life for humankind. However the inappropriate overuse of antibiotics has bred resistant bacteria in the environment (such as MRSA and VRE) (1). Every dentist has a responsibility to stop this overuse of antibiotics and to be judicious with their prescriptions.
At Ocean Microendodontics, we seriously consider this responsibility to our patients and society as a whole when antibiotics are prescribed (2). If you are a patient of ours, please let us know of any questions or concerns you have about antibiotics and their role in your treatment.
- ADA Council on Scientific Affairs. Combating antibiotic resistance. J Am Dent Assoc 2004;135:484.
- Sweeney LC, Jayshree D, Chambers PA, Heritage J. Antibiotic resistance in general dental practice—a cause for concern. J Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2004;53:567.
