Oral health, antimicrobial resistance and the need for interprofessional education

This mini review examines how oral microbial ecology, dental antibiotic prescribing, fragmented clinical pathways at the medical–dental–pharmacy interface, and ethical pressures together contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in oral healthcare, and argues that interprofessional collaboration and interprofessional education are essential components of an effective response. Relevant literature was identified through targeted searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library , relevant guidelines and policy documents resulting in selection of seventy-two references comprising four thematic domains: clinical coordination and decision-making across dental, medical, and pharmacy settings; antimicrobial stewardship and rational antibiotic use in dentistry; fragmented care pathways at the medical–dental–pharmacy interface; and ethical and educational dimensions of prescribing. The novelty of this review lies in bringing these domains together within a single conceptual framework that positions oral healthcare not as a peripheral issue, but as biologically, clinically, and ethically important site of AMR emergence and stewardship.