ABSTRACT

Third molar surgery is considered as the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. The use of prophylactic antibiotics in third molar surgeries to prevent post-operative complications is common, but there is controversial evidence for the efficacy of these drugs in reducing the incidence of the post-operative complications. The aim of this study is to comparatively evaluate the efficacy of 3-days antibiotic regimen with 5- days antibiotic regimen in reducing the post-operative complications of third molar surgery.This was a double blind, randomized controlled trial. Twenty patients were randomly divided into two groups. Following surgical removal of third molar all participants received capsules of amoxicillin 500 mg thrice daily and tablets of metronidazole 400 mg thrice daily orally for the first three days. For the next two days participants received either amoxicillin and metronidazole or placebo. Subjects were assessed postoperatively on the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 7th days by the same observer for post-operative mouth opening (interincisal distance), presence of a purulent discharge at the site of surgery, pain and swelling. No statistically significant difference was seen between both the treatment groups when pain, swelling and purulent discharge were considered. We recommend the three-days course of antibiotics for symptomatic third molar surgeries as this is equally as effective as a five-days course but is cheaper with possibly decreased emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Keywords: Antibiotics, extraction, impaction, third molar, wisdom tooth
Publication date: 01/12/2020

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2020/December/MS_IJBPAS_2020_5270.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2020/9.12.5270