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Research Shows Dentists Prescribing More Antibiotics

Posted by Joe Gargiulo | Fri, Jun 10, 2016 @ 07:00 PM

A recent study of data compiled between 1996 and 2013 reveals a 62% increase in the prescribing of antibiotics by dentists despite declines in their prescribing by physicians and overall use. The work was conducted by a Dental_Antibiotics_Prescription_graph.pngCanadian team including researchers from the University of British Columbia and the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control. “Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists Has Increased” was published in the May 2016 issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.

Dentists cited several critical reasons for prescribing antibiotics: treatment of periapical abscess and irreversible pulpitis; widespread use of dental implants and bone grafting; and perioperative prophylaxis for patients with prosthetic joints or valvular heart disease.

Nevertheless, the study serves as a barometer for an industry committed to helping patients as it searches for new ways to increase sales.

Researchers said they obtained anonymized, line-listed data on outpatient prescriptions … using a centralized, population-based prescription database that included a variable-coding prescriber licensing body for all oral prescriptions.

“Although physicians account for providing the most antibiotic prescriptions,” they said, “our study results showed a substantial increase in the proportionate and absolute prescribing rates by dentists in BC.”

eating_apple_photo.jpgThe results indicate the following increases in the rate of utilization among popular antibiotics between 1996 and 2013:

  • Amoxicillin - 143%
  • Clindamycin - 789%
  • Penicillin - 67%
  • Amoxicillin and Enzyme Inhibitor - 2,240%
  • Doxycycline - 4.3%

Antibiotic use by age group is also of note:

  • Patients 40 – 59 years had the highest rate of consumption from 1996 – 2009
  • Residents 60 years or older surpassed the use of 40- to 59-year-olds in 2010
  • Those 60 years or older had the highest rate among all age groups by 2013

Finally, the study observed that “a decision to surgically manage an underinsured patient can result in considerable lost income for a dentist; this situation creates an incentive toward choosing the quick option of offering an antibiotic prescription, for example, even when this choice does not represent definitive treatment.”

Finding viable payment options is an important component of modern dentistry, and practices can make it easy for patients without insurance to cover emergencies with CrossCheck’s Multiple Check service. Patients write 2 – 4 checks at the time of treatment that are deposited by the office over 30 days. Checks are approved on the spot via terminal, phone or the web. It's not financing, but it is a win-win for both the patient and the practice. Learn how it can increase sales in your office by downloading our free guide.

The customer writes 2 – 4 checks at the time of purchase that are deposited by the dealership over 30 days. Checks are simply approved on the spot via terminal, phone or the web. It’s not financing, but it is a win-win for both the seller and the buyer. Learn how it can increase sales at your business by downloading our free guide. - See more at: http://www.cross-check.com/blog/inside-heavy-equipment-buying-a-forklift-made-easy#sthash.ASGlez1f.dpuf

In fact, Multiple Check is a great way to help your customers make critical down-payments without breaking the proverbial bank, especially if you are in the building materials industry.

The customer writes 2 – 4 checks at the time of purchase that are deposited by the dealership over 30 days. Checks are simply approved on the spot via terminal, phone or the web. It’s not financing, but it is a win-win for both the seller and the buyer. Learn how it can increase sales at your business by downloading our free guide.

- See more at: http://www.cross-check.com/blog/inside-heavy-equipment-buying-a-forklift-made-easy#sthash.cJoIzWiv.dpufChecks are approved at the front desk in seconds via terminal, phone or the web before being deposited in the bank. The office then sets up a plan for the patient to pay off the account within 30 days. It's not financing; there is no credit check; and CrossCheck guarantees the revenue to the dealer. Download the free insider's guide now to increase sales.

Multiple Check Insider's Guide

Topics: Dentists

Written by Joe Gargiulo

Marketing Specialist Joe Gargiulo has 25-plus years in marketing, communications and copy writing. As a writer, he enjoys connecting story leads to all aspects of the human experience.