Dental Antibiotic Stewardship: Prescribing for Prophylaxis and Intraoral Pain and Swelling
Activity Description:
Antibiotics are prescribed as prophylaxis before dental procedures in patients at risk for infective endocarditis or prosthetic joint infection, and for the urgent management of dental pain and intraoral swelling related to pulpal and periapical conditions. However, this prescribing is not always consistent with current evidence-based guideline recommendations. Inappropriate use of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance while unnecessarily exposing patients to the risks of adverse effects.
Complete this video continuing education activity to learn about current use of antibiotics in dental-related care, guideline recommendations for appropriate use in selected indications, and examples of practices that can support stewardship efforts.
Activity Type: Knowledge-based, online home-study
Learning Objectives:
- Outline opportunities for antibiotic stewardship in dental care.
- Identify common antibiotics in dentistry, their mechanisms of action, and selected examples of their usage.
- Summarize evidence-based guidance for antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedures in patients at risk for endocarditis or prosthetic joint infection.
- Recognize when antibiotics may be appropriate for the urgent management of dental pain and intraoral swelling related to pulpal and periapical conditions.
- Discuss approaches to support appropriate antibiotic prescribing for dental indications.
Target Audience: Dentists, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers.
Initial Release Date: 04/20/2026
Expiration Date: 04/20/2029
Cost and Registration: There is no fee for this activity. The program is supported by the New York State Department of Health Medicaid Prescriber Education Program (MPEP).
Activity Components for Continuing Education Credit: To obtain continuing education credit, complete the required materials. This continuing education activity contains a pre-test, educational video presentation with slide handout, supplementary handout, post-test, and program evaluation. Credit will be awarded upon successful completion of the post-test activity, with a score of 70% or greater.
For dentists:
The University at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, Office of Alumni Relations and Professional Engagement is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.
Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at CCEPR.ADA.org.
The University at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, Office of Alumni Relations and Professional Engagement designates this activity for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit.
This continuing education activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) through joint efforts between the University at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, Office of Alumni Relations and Professional Engagement and the Medicaid Prescriber Education Program.
For physicians and other prescribers:
Accreditation: The University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Certification: The University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences designates this Internet Enduring Activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
For pharmacists:
The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This knowledge-based, online home study activity has been assigned ACPE# 0044-9999-26-015-H01-P and will award 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education credit. Credit will be uploaded to the CPE Monitor for those who complete all components of this activity.
Questions? Please email: pharmacyce@buffalo.edu
The following planners, presenters and others have either indicated financial relationships with ineligible companies or that no financial relationships exist. An ineligible company is any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education
| The following planners/presenters/others have disclosed financial relationships: | |
| Role in Activity | Name |
| Presenter, Planner, Author | Simone Duarte, DDS, MS, PhD Advisory board member and consultant: Kenvue (relationship has ended) |
| Reviewer | Wesley D Kufel, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, FCCP, FIDSA Consultant and speaker: Shionogi, Inc. (relationship has ended) Research grant: Merck & Co. (relationship has ended) |
| All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated. | |
| The following planners/presenters/others do not have any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies: | |
| Role in Activity | Name |
| Reviewer | Edward M Bednarczyk, PharmD, FCCP, FAPhA |
| Presenter, Reviewer | Albert Cantos, DDS |
| Reviewer | Kalpesh J Desai, BsCPharm, PharmD |
| Presenter, Planner, Author | Michael P Krajewski Jr, PharmD, MLS |
| Reviewer | Barbara Rogler, PharmD, MS |
| Reviewer | John A Sellick, Jr, DO, MS |
| Activity Director, Planner, Author | Alexia Sroka, PharmD, BCPS |
| Planner, Author | Deborah J Targoff, PharmD |
| Reviewer | Brian Touhey, PharmD |
No commercial support was received for this activity.
- Chrome, version 133 (64-bit) or higher
- Firefox, version 135 (64-bit) or higher
- Safari, version 18 (64-bit) or higher
- Edge, version 133 (64-bit) or higher
- Internet Explorer is NOT supported
- Smartphones have limited support. Use a desktop or laptop computer for the best experience.
- Chrome, version 133 (64-bit) or higher
- Safari, version 18 (64-bit) or higher
- Internet Speed: 5 Mbps
- Processor: Dual-core 2Ghz or higher
- Memory (RAM): 4GB
- Storage: Storage requirements are minimal unless materials are downloaded.
For questions about this activity, please contact: pep@nysdoh.suny.edu