Current trends in antibiotic prescribing for dental implant surgery in Turkiye: a cross-sectional survey

Year 2026, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 160 - 167, 20.02.2026

Aras Erdil , Sefa Çolak , Aslı Başal , Göksal Keldal

https://izlik.org/JA56LA79YM

Abstract

Aims: Prophylactic antibiotic therapy in dental implant surgery remains controversial. This study evaluated the pre- and postoperative prescribing patterns of Turkish clinicians performing implant surgery and assessed the influence of specialization and workplace on prescribing behaviors.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 15-item questionnaire adapted from validated instruments and reviewed by experts. Items covered clinician characteristics, pre- and postoperative prescribing habits, antibiotic choice, dosage, route, and duration. The survey was distributed electronically, and 333 responses were analyzed. Descriptive statistics summarized prescribing trends; Chi-square tests and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals examined associations.
Results: Of 333 respondents, 201 (60.4%) were general dentists, 69 (20.7%) residents, and 63 (18.9%) specialists. Preoperatively, 30 clinicians (9.0%) routinely prescribed antibiotics, 171 (51.4%) never prescribed, and 132 (39.6%) prescribed occasionally. The most common indication was systemic comorbidities (58.6%). Aminopenicillins were the preferred agents (64.0%), mainly administered orally. Postoperatively, 282 clinicians (84.7%) prescribed antibiotics, most often amoxicillin–clavulanic acid 875/125 mg twice daily (59.5%) or amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily (28.8%) for 5–7 days. Preoperative prescribing was significantly associated with workplace(p<0.001), and postoperative prescribing with specialization(p=0.002). OR analysis showed residents were less likely than general dentists to prescribe postoperatively (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22–0.86), while clinicians in solo private practices were more likely than those in university hospitals (OR 3.49, 95% CI 1.54–7.93). In multivariable logistic regression, preoperative prescribing (‘yes’ vs ‘sometimes’) was independently associated with prolonged postoperative antibiotic duration (≥5 days) (aOR 0.14; 95% CI 0.04–0.46; p=0.001).
Conclusion: Turkish clinicians demonstrate limited preoperative but frequent and prolonged postoperative antibiotic prescribing. Specialization and workplace significantly influence prescribing patterns, underscoring the need for national consensus protocols, education, and antimicrobial stewardship in implantology.

Keywords

Dental implants , antibiotic prophylaxis , drug prescriptions , surveys and questionnaires , antimicrobial stewardship , Turkiye

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