From Evidence to Action: Applying Dental Antibiotic Stewardship in Real Practice
Speaker:
Dr. Debra Goff, PharD, FIDSA, FCCP
CE Credits:
About the Course
Designed as an interactive workshop, this hands-on session translates current evidence and antibiotic guidelines into daily clinical workflows. Participants will work through real-world patient cases to refine prescribing habits, manage reported penicillin allergies, and address medico-legal concerns related to patients with joint implants. Emphasis is placed on safe prescribing parameters, alignment with national ADA stewardship standards, and chairside strategies for educating patients.
Why This Matters To You
Strengthens your confidence in making evidence-informed antibiotic decisions that protect patients and reduce unnecessary prescribing—for example, deciding when antibiotics are not indicated for uncomplicated dental pain or swelling.
Provides practical tools for managing common real-world challenges, including reported penicillin allergies, patient expectations, and medico-legal concerns—for example, using targeted allergy questions to distinguish a childhood rash from a true immediate hypersensitivity reaction.
Helps you communicate clearly with patients about antibiotic risks, microbiome health, and why shorter or no antibiotic therapy may be the safest choice—for example, explaining that antibiotics can disrupt the gut microbiome and increase the risk for C. difficile infection.
Educational Objectives
Apply new ADA evidence-informed antibiotic prescribing to guide clinical decision-making and address concerns about liability.
Implement a systematic approach to evaluate and treat patients reporting a penicillin allergy.
Develop patient communication strategies to explain the rationale for withholding or shortening antibiotic therapy while managing patient expectations.
Identify the medical history information that should be collected to recognize patients at high risk for C. difficile infection.
Develop waiting room and chairside antibiotic patient education messaging that explains the impact of antibiotics on the oral and gut microbiomes and clarifies the role of probiotics.
Your Instructor:
Dr. Debra Goff, PharD, FIDSA, FCCP
Dr. Debbie Goff is an internationally recognized Infectious Diseases clinical pharmacist with 38 years of experience at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She is one of twenty-five global health experts selected by the World Health Organization to implement antibiotic stewardship programs in low- and middle-income countries. Her groundbreaking collaborations with private practice and academic dentists, orthopedic surgeons, and the CDC have shaped national conversations on dental antibiotic use.
Dr. Goff’s work includes the first of two U.S. studies assessing antibiotic prescribing in private dental practices. She is an invited speaker for the FDI World Dental Federation, numerous dental study clubs, Pikos Institute, Midwest Implant Institute, state dental societies, several US and five South Africa dental schools. She is the first infectious diseases clinical pharmacist to be part of the Seattle Study Clubs Signature Speakers. With over 160 publications and numerous grants, she brings unmatched expertise and passion to transforming dental antibiotic practices.
Conflict of Interest:
None reported
The TDA is an ADA CERP provider(May 2024 – June 2028)
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing 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 ADA CERP at ada.org/cerp.
TENNESSEE DENTAL ASSOCIATION
Nationally Approved PACE Program Provider for FAGD/MAGD credit.
Approval does not imply acceptance by
any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement.
4/1/2026 to 3/31/2029.
Provider ID# 219273