The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio a four-year, $2.4 million grant to work with the American Dental Association Science & Research Institute (ADASRI) to perform a clinical trial study for the responsible use of antibiotics to treat periodontal disease also known as gum disease. The study will allow for the generatation of real-world data on periodontal disease treatments that are supplemented by antibiotics.
The study will be lead by principle investigator Georgios Kotsakis, DDS, MS who is an associate professor of periodontics at the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. More than 30 clinicians who belong to the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) will collect data for the study. The trial is expected to start in Spring 2023 and the periodontal patients will be treated and followed for around 1 year. It is expected that over 1,050 patients across the U.S. will be enrolled in the study.
It is expected that the clinicians will share data about the efficacy of the antibiotics and this could help to formulate evidence-based clinical guidelines for antiobitic use. It is hopeful that this work will help advance the future of oral health and improve clinical practice by allow dentits to make better treatment decisions. The trial is an opportunity to apply previous recommendations on antibiotic-related guidelines released by the American Dental Association (ADA), such as the 2015 guideline about the use of antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental procedures in patients with prosthetic joints and the 2019 guidelines about the use of antibiotics for managing dental pain and intraoral swelling. The trial will also allow for the use of the guidelines from the American Academy of Periodontology and endorsed by the ADA in 2021, on disease classification to diagnose periodontal disease and peri-implantitis.
Periodontitis is highly pravelent in areas like South Texas were this study will be spearheaded. Periodontal disease or gum disease affects up to 40% of the U.S. and the more severe form is periodontitis which also affects amany worldwide. Advanced forms of periodontitis can be difficult to treat and can result in the loss of the jawbone the loss of teeth and a low-grade inflammation that can lead to other diseases. Systemic antibiotics along with deep cleanings are are used by dentists for treatment however currently the data on such antibiotic use is limited. Further using antibotics too much can lead to antibiotic resistance and dangerous superbugs that can be harmful to patients.
For those interested, periodontal disease and the link with cardiovascular disease has been covered before on this site see for example the post Additional link between cardiovascular and periodontal disease. Antibiotic resistance and avoiding antibiotics for wisdom teeth surgery has been covered before on this site see for example Reasons to Avoid Amoxicillin For Healthy Patients in Conjunction with Wisdom Teeth Surgery.
Certainly any postiive developments around antiobitics are welcome in dentistry. One will have to keep an eye out to see if this does help shape future guidelines in dentistry for antibiotic use.
Source:
- Steven Lee, “NIH awards $2.4 million grant to UT Health San Antonio and ADA Science & Research Institute to study responsible antibiotic use,” UT Health San Antonio, April 27, 2022, https://news.uthscsa.edu/nih-awards-2-4-million-grant-to-ut-health-san-antonio-and-ada-science-research-institute-to-study-responsible-antibiotic-use/