Abstract: Many studies have examined the pattern of various analgesics and antibiotics prescribed by primary care dental practitioners to treat irreversible pulpitis. To determine the pattern of medicines for irreversible pulpitis among undergraduate dental students, a cross sectional survey seeking mock medications based on dental scenarios of irreversible pulpitis for child, pregnant woman and apical periodontitis for man was carried out on final year dental students. Responses (n=111) were collected and analysed by frequency for drug prescribed. Data included the name of medicines, dose and presentation of the drugs. Majority of mock prescriptions (97.4%) had a combination of antibiotics and analgesics to male patients having apical periodontitis. Almost 25% prescribed antibiotics to the pregnant women of 1st trimester, while 81.9% suggested antibiotic and analgesic in tablet form to a child patient. In analgesic and antibiotics groups, acetaminophen (75.5%) and amoxicillin (56.7%) were highest respectively. Abbreviated drug name (11.7% analgesic and 0.9% antibiotic), and incorrect strengths (7.3% antibiotics and 14 % analgesics) were found. Amoxicillin and acetaminophen were primary medication for irreversible pulpitis. More clinical training especially on prescribing medication was suggested.
Key words: Analgesics, Antibiotics, Dental students, Irreversible pulpitis, Medication.
[1] Doyle G, Javawardena S, Ashraf E, Cooper SA. Efficacy and tolerability of non prescription ibuprofen versus celecoxib for dental pain. J Clin Pharma, 42: 2002,912-919.
[2] Morse Z, Tump A, Kevelharm E. Ibuprofen as a pre-emptive analgesic is as effective as rofecoxib for mandibular third molar surgery. Odontology, 94: 2006, 59-63.
[3] Hind V, Waterhouse PJ, Maguire A, Tabari D, Lloyd J. Developing a primary dental care outreach (PDCO) course-part-1: practical issues and evaluation of clinical activity. Euro J Dent Educ, 13:2009, 203-209.
[4] Lewis MAO. Why we must reduce dental prescription of antibiotics: European Union antibiotic awareness day. Br Dent J, 205: 2008, 537-538.
[5] Najla Dar –Odeh, Soukaina Ryalat, Mohammad Shayyab, Osama abu-Hammad. Analysis of clinical records of dental patients attending Jordan University Hospital: Documentation of drug prescription and local anaesthetic injections. Therap Ris Clin Manag, 4, 2008, 1111-1117.
[6] Mendonca JM, Lyra DP, Rabelo JS, et al. Analysis and detection of dental prescribing errors at primary health care units in Brazil. Pharm. World Sci, 32, 2010, 30-35.
[7] Dar-Odeh, N S, Abu-Hammad OA, Khraisat AS, El Maaytah MA, Shehabi A. An analysis of therapeutic, adul antibiotic prescriptions issued by dental practitioners in Jordan. Chemotherapy, 54: 2008, 17-22.
[8] Chate R A, White S, Hale, L R O, et al. The impact of clinical audit on antibiotic prescribing in general dental practice. Br Dent J, 201, 2006, 635-641.
[9] Buck D, Malik S, Murohy N, Patel V, Singh S, Vorah N. What makes a good dentist and do recent trainees make the grade? The views of vocational trainers. Br Dent J, 189, 2000, 563-566.
[10] Palmer N O,Martin MV, Pealing R,Ireland RS. An analysis of antibiotic prescriptions from general dental practitioners in England. J Antimicrob Chemother, 46, 2000, 1033-1035.