Antibiotic resistance is becoming a greater and greater concern. Bacteria are becoming stronger and stronger. Over the past two years about five of our patients have been hospitalized due to aggressive dental infections. A dental infection can kill a patient but the new age of antibiotics has hidden this fact from modern man. Many health care practitioners are just not very concerned about this problem. It is becoming more and more important that patients receive regular preventative dental care to help avoid potential future problems.
To help prevent antibiotic resistance, many dentists believe that antibiotics should not be prescribed in every case. It works like this. If you have a blue elephant gun that only kills blue elephants, then you will kill all of the blue elephants. Pink elephants are not killed with a blue elephant gun so over time the pinks elephants become plentiful. After a while, your blue elephant gun is useless because there aren't any blue elephants. Continual use of an antibiotic, like penicillin, causes it to become less effective.
Bacteria with antibiotic resistance should be treated early and aggressively. Failing to prescribe a strong broad spectrum dental antibiotic early can later lead to an unmanageable facial infection. Hospitalizations due to uncontrolled infections are very expensive and patient often blame their dentists for not acting more appropriately. With this possibility looming over patients, it is usually best to aggressively approach all dental infections. It is also important that patients seek dental care as soon as they realize they many have a dental infection.
Our dentists are very concerned about antibiotic resistance and its consequences for their patients. The dentists at the Atlanta Dental Group PC are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being. You are welcome to join our family of patients. They offer comprehensive dental services which help prevent bacterial infections. If you are concerned and would like to consult with our Georgia Dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, please call and make an appointment at 404-874-7428.