Package Description

Nationally, US dentists prescribe 13% of outpatient antibiotics prescriptions; however, the prescribing habits of dentists are poorly understood. Although the benefits of antibiotics for patient health and wellbeing have been well-documented, these potential lifesavers can also result in a range of adverse reactions including serious population level concerns such as antibiotic resistant infections. This session will define the challenges with antibiotic use, enumerate the roles of dentists in the future of antibiotic stewardship, and discuss best practices in other healthcare professions. We will review the current evidence base for antibiotic use in dentistry and review best practices for dental clinicians. Participants will be shown an example of an antibiotic stewardship program that was implemented at the state level, and brainstorm programs and policies that have the potential to work in their state. Lastly, participants will discuss future policy state and national options for antibiotic stewardship.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define roles of dentists and state dental directors in antibiotic stewardship.
2. Describe evidence-based guidelines for antibiotic use in dentistry.
3. Understand the mindset shift and influence clinical guidelines have on clinical practice.
4. Identify and utilize resources that can be used chairside to make clinical decisions for antibiotic stewardship.

Price:

• Members & Non-Members: Free

Continuing Education

The Association for Dental Safety (ADS) 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 ADA.org/CERP.

Please email the ADS office at [email protected] or call +1 (410) 571-0003 if you wish to be in contact with the course author/creator(s) with any questions or for clarification of course concepts or for technical assistance in completing the online test.

All participants assume individual responsibility for providing evidence of contact hours of continuing education to the appropriate authorities and for the maintenance of their individual records.

Learn more about our CE Program & Provider Recognition.

CE Credits: 2.5
Educational Method: Self-instructional (self-study)
Location: Online
Publication Date: November 2025 
Expiration Date: November 30, 2028

Speaker:

Erinne Kennedy, DMD, MPH, MMSc

Dr. Kennedy took her love for the dental profession and applied to dental school. She graduated in 2015 from Nova Southeastern University’s College of Dental Medicine (NSU). After dental school, Erinne attended a one-year general practice residency (GPR) at the VA Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Erinne has a passion for community health and received her certificate of completion for a dental public health (DPH) residency from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) in 2018. She was board certified in public health in 2019. In May 2019, she graduated as the pioneer student at HSDM with a MMSc in Dental Education. 

She has served on the American Dental Association (ADA) expert panel for developing the guideline on the Use of Antibiotics for the Emergency Management of Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis, Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis, and Localized Acute Apical Abscess, and is a national antibiotic stewardship spokesperson both for the ADA and for the Association for Dental Safety. Additionally, she was a speaker at the first interdisciplinary statewide training in Massachusetts on antibiotic stewardship, as well as at three national Antibiotic Stewardship conferences for dental teams hosted by the ADS. She continues to conduct research in the area of antibiotic stewardship and develop tools for clinical practice. She works at Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine as an Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Integrated Learning. 

Disclosures: No relevant financial relationships to disclose