Improving Antibiotic Use in Dental Care
Informatics Approaches to Understand and Reduce Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists
This project helps dentists prescribe antibiotics more carefully to protect patients from side effects and keep these important medicines working for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144337 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Antibiotics are vital medicines, but using them too much can lead to serious side effects like allergic reactions or C. difficile infections, and contributes to antibiotic resistance. Many dentists currently prescribe antibiotics before procedures even when guidelines suggest it's not necessary. This project uses data and information technology to understand why these prescribing patterns occur. The goal is to develop better tools and strategies to help dentists follow established guidelines, ensuring you receive the most appropriate care. Ultimately, this work aims to build a system that continuously improves the quality of dental care for all patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who receive dental care and may be prescribed antibiotics are the focus of this work.
Not a fit: Patients who do not receive dental care or are not prescribed antibiotics would not directly benefit from this specific initiative.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to fewer patients experiencing antibiotic side effects and help ensure antibiotics remain effective for future generations.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific informatics approach may be novel in dentistry, the concept of antibiotic stewardship has shown success in other medical fields.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walji, Muhammad — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Walji, Muhammad
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.