Sammanfattning
Dentists are responsible for a considerable part of human use of antibiotics. This article describes the mode of action of antibiotics relevant to dental treatment. Further, the present knowledge on the consequences of antibiotic treatment is provided - from immediate side effects to long lasting emergence of antibiotic resistance. Mechanisms of resistance for individual antibiotics are presented. There is a direct correlation between the use of antibiotics and development of resistance and selection of resistant bacteria. Therefore, the use of antibiotics should always be thoroughly considered taking into account the expected clinical effect and the risk associated with an oral infection as opposed to the increasing problem of bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics. This consideration has led to more restricted recommendations for the use of antibiotics in several Nordic clinical guidelines for dental treatment than hitherto practiced.