Efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis postoperatively in patients undergoing third molars surgery- A comparative study.

Mandeep Sharma; Sandeep Sharma; Priyanka MV

Volume : VII, Issue : IX, September - 2018

Efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis postoperatively in patients undergoing third molars surgery- A comparative study.

Mandeep Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, Priyanka Mv

Abstract :

Background & Objectives: It is a common practice now a days to prescribe antibiotics after 3^rd molar surgery. The most common drug used is amoxycillin and its related compounds. Indiscriminate use of amoxycillin carries serious effects of developing resistance to the drug. In this study we investigated the efficacy of amoxycillin in reducing the post operative complications after removal of mandibular 3^rd molar.

Methodology:A study was carried on 40 patients of age group 18– 35 years who required impacted mandibular 3^rd molar tooth removal bilaterally in a randomized controlled manner. For group A (one side)amoxicillin was given from one hour before surgery till 3 days postoperatively. For group B (other side) placebo was given. Alveolar osteitis, surgical wound infection, trismus, swelling, dysphagia were assessed 2^ndand 10^thdays postoperatively.

Results: Nostatistically significant (p value >0.05) results were found in patients in group A and group B with wound infection, trismus,swelling and dysphagia as parameters for evaluating postoperative sequalae.

Conclusions. This study suggests that prophylactic amoxicillin is not effective for the prevention or reduction of postoperative complications after the removal of impacted mandibular third molars when preoperative infections are absent.