Studying antibiotic use in dentistry

What are you researching?

“I’m a dentist and am researching two different fields. The largest is the use of antibiotics in dentistry. The overuse of antibiotics in healthcare is causing ever greater problems of antibiotic resistance. Globally speaking, dentistry accounts for 10 per cent of antibiotic use. In Sweden, we’ve brought it down to around 7 per cent, so it’s an area of much significance. If we’re to reduce antibiotic use in Sweden without compromising patient safety, we need to do the research.”

Can you go into more detail?

“An important aspect of my work is to produce clinical recommendations and guidelines based on the current science, and to do this we’re collaborating on a national and international level. Another part of my research on antibiotics involves charting their current use. We’re also comparing treatment options in our own clinical studies to fill the gaps in our knowledge of the field."

“Much of this concerns implant surgery, which accounts for a large proportion of antibiotic use by dentists. Antibiotic use by the dental health services in Sweden has dropped by 30 per cent since 2007, and a study that we’re about to publish shows that the rate of serious infection has not increased during this time.”

What is your other research field?

“Problems of the temporomandibular joint, which are often overlooked when talking about joint problems. These are relatively common, and if severe can seriously affect the quality of life. Surgery is used in such cases and my research is about finding factors that can predict surgical outcomes and possible causes of unsuccessful surgery. About 2 per cent of patients can’t be helped, and their temporomandibular joint function actually deteriorates. If we can identify such patients in advance, we can prevent a great deal of suffering. One thing we’ve discovered is that a certain type of pain symptom correlates with a higher risk of surgical failure.”