As part of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (November 18-24), the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) said Monday, in collaboration with Choosing Wisely Canada, is promoting the responsible use of antibiotics in dentistry. The initiative aims to reduce unnecessary prescriptions and combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
A webinar is scheduled for Nov. 20, alongside the release of a toolkit designed to assist dental and community health professionals in improving antimicrobial stewardship practices.
Choosing Wisely Canada, established in 2014 by the Canadian Medical Association, focuses on reducing unnecessary tests and treatments. It collaborates with national clinician societies to develop recommendations on overused procedures that do not add value to patient care.
“AMR is a growing public health threat, and as dental professionals, we have a crucial role to play in reducing antimicrobial resistance and preventing the emergence of drug-resistant infections,” said Dr. Joel Antel, CDA President.
“Choosing Wisely Canada and CDA’s coordinated action to enhance awareness and understanding of AMR underscores the seriousness of this global health challenge,” Dr. Antel added.
Webinar and toolkit highlights
The webinar, themed The Whole Tooth: Why Antibiotics Won’t Help a Toothache, will feature expert speakers from dentistry and primary care. They will discuss alternative approaches to managing toothaches and provide tools for improving antibiotic prescribing in community settings.
Meanwhile, the toolkit includes:
- Practical guidance and frequently asked questions.
- An educational poster.
- Patient resources on managing toothaches without antibiotics.
After all, nearly 73.6% of Canada’s total antimicrobial consumption in 2021 consisted of antibiotics commonly prescribed for tooth pain, surpassing the World Health Organization’s country-specific target benchmark of 60%.
These resources aim to support dental and primary care professionals in enhancing patient care while minimizing the risks of antibiotic overuse.
AMR behind 1.27M deaths worldwide
The World Health Organization said on its website that the Antimicrobial Awareness Week’s theme for this year is “Educate. Advocate. Act now.” It explained that the theme was chosen based on feedback from an online survey among stakeholders from the human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors, which collected nearly 200 responses globally.
According to the WHO, bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was directly responsible for an estimated 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million more. Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and plants are the primary factors driving the development of drug-resistant pathogens.
While AMR impacts nations across all regions and income levels, low- and middle-income countries bear the greatest burden.
(The article was updated to include the toolkit)
