TITLE:  Clindamycin Under Scrutiny: What Every Dental Clinician Should Know

COURSE FEE:  Complimentary Access

CREDITS: This continuing education activity is designated for 1 credit

DURATION: 60 minutes

AGD PACE SUBJECT CODE: 134 Prescription Medication Management

CE SUPPORTER: None

MODE: Electronically Mediated | Live Interactive Webinar

SPEAKER: Dr. Kirsten Roling, DDS (Bio below)

AUDIENCE: Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Therapists, Dental Students

COURSE SUMMARY: For decades, clindamycin held a prominent place in dental practice, particularly for patients reporting a penicillin allergy and for the management and prevention of odontogenic infections. But evolving evidence regarding antimicrobial stewardship, adverse drug events, Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection, and appropriate antibiotic selection has dramatically changed how clinicians should view this once-familiar dental standby.

This evidence-based continuing education course examines the history of clindamycin—from its development and pharmacology to its widespread adoption in medicine and dentistry—and explores the science that ultimately led to major changes in clinical recommendations. Participants will review clindamycin's composition, mechanism of action, antimicrobial spectrum, indications, and historical uses in dental practice, while examining its potential for serious adverse effects, including antibiotic-associated diarrhea and C. difficile infection.

Special attention will be given to the evidence behind the decision to no longer recommend clindamycin as an alternative for certain patients with penicillin allergy. The course will distinguish between situations in which clindamycin has fallen out of favor and circumstances in which it may still have a legitimate clinical role.

Through the lens of antibiotic stewardship and current evidence, dental professionals will leave with a clearer understanding of how recommendations changed, why they changed, and how thoughtful antibiotic selection can reduce preventable patient harm while supporting responsible antimicrobial prescribing.

TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED:  Mobile device, laptop or desktop with internet connection | Google Chrome Browser

INSTRUCTIONS:  Dental CE Academy hosts all webinars using the ClickMeeting platform. Upon registration you are sent a confirmation email from no-reply@clickeeting.com with a link to join. Be sure to check your spam/junk/promotions folders. We recommend logging in 15 minutes early in the event you require assistance. 

HANDOUTS:  Distributed via email to all attendees 1 hour prior to start, during and after the webinar. 

QUIZ FOR CE CREDIT VERIFICATION: At the conclusion of the webinar, attendees will be redirected to complete a quiz for CE credit. An 80% minimum passing score is required, multiple attempts are permitted, and attendees have 7 days to successfully complete the quiz for CE credit.

​LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

• Describe the history and pharmacology of clindamycin, including its development, mechanism of action, antimicrobial spectrum, and introduction into dental practice.

• Identify the historical and contemporary dental indications for clindamycin and differentiate appropriate therapeutic use from routine or unnecessary antibiotic prescribing.

• Explain the adverse-effect profile associated with clindamycin, with particular emphasis on antibiotic-associated diarrhea, disruption of the intestinal microbiome, and Clostridioides difficile infection.

• Discuss the evidence and evolving professional recommendations that led to clindamycin falling out of favor for certain dental indications, including changes involving antibiotic prophylaxis for patients reporting penicillin allergy.

• Compare clindamycin with alternative antibiotic options based on clinical indication, patient history, allergy status, antimicrobial spectrum, safety, and principles of antibiotic stewardship.

• Apply current evidence and antimicrobial stewardship principles to dental prescribing decisions to minimize unnecessary antibiotic exposure, reduce adverse events, and promote safer patient care.