Patients' Opinions on Antibiotics in the Treatment of Dental Infections: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate patients' knowledge and perceptions of the use of systemic antibiotics in the treatment of endodontic infections and to determine the possible contribution of patients to the development of bacterial resistance. Methods: A total of 550 patients were asked to respond to a survey on the perception of systemic antibiotic use in the treatment of endodontic infections and antibiotic resistance during January 2022 and March 2023. A bivariate and multivariate analysis was performed to determine possible correlates in the population regarding antibiotic use in the endodontic world. Results: A total of 514 patients were included in the study, 65.9% of whom were women. While 34.6% of the population studied thought that it was always necessary to take antibiotics prior to endodontics, 49.4% considered that they were necessary after endodontics, regardless of the clinical symptoms. The prevalence of self-medication was 17.3%, and women self-medicate more than men, with significant differences (p < 0.05), although they have a greater knowledge of antibiotic resistance than men (p < 0.05). Forty-four percent of the population expected to take antibiotics when faced with dental pain, mainly women (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The general population is contributing to the serious problem of bacterial resistance. It is necessary to promote educational strategies focused on the correct use of antibiotics in the community. The worst results were found mainly in the population with a low level of education. The level of education was the variable that most influenced the knowledge and attitudes of the population, followed by the sex of the participants.