Prescription of antibiotics for the prevention of failures and postoperative infections in oral implantology: a literature review

Abstract

The increased success and survival of dental implants reported in the literature has led them to become increasingly popular. Albrektsson estimated that more than 12 million implants are placed annually around the globe.1 A recent systematic review reported a mean survival value of 94.6% and success rates ranging from 34.9-100% over a mean follow-up period of 13 years.2 Antibiotics are a type of antimicrobial agent that kill or slow the growth of bacteria, and they are prescribed by health professionals to treat and prevent infections. Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis can be defined as “the use of antibiotics to prevent infections at the surgical site”.3 There are currently no clear guidelines on antibiotic prophylaxis for implant surgery and antibiotic prophylaxis remains a controversial topic.