Evaluation of antibiotic prophylaxis and postoperative complications after impacted third molar surgery

Introduction: The use of routine antibiotic therapy in patients undergoing surgical third molar extraction is controversial. Aim:This study evaluated the influence of antibiotic prophylaxis on postoperative complications after inferior third molar removal in young patients. Material and method: The efficacy of antibiotic therapy in preventing postoperative complications following surgical impacted third molar extractions was evaluated in 50 patients. Patients were randomized into 2 groups, the test group and control group. In the test group (25 patients), the protocol utilized a regimen of 2 g of amoxicillin orally daily for 5 d postoperatively, starting at the completion of surgery. In the control group (25 patients), no antibiotic therapy was given. Results: The mean operating time was 34 minutes in the control group and 31 minutes in the test group (тhis difference was not significant). No significant difference was found between the testgroup and the control group in the incidence of postoperative parameters: fever, pain, swelling and alveolar osteitis. A statistically significant association between smoking, habitual drinking and increased postoperative pain and fever was found. No correlation was found between the time required for surgery or difficulty of extraction and post-operative pain. Conclusion: No difference was found between patients receiving postoperative amoxicillin and the control group in the incidence of postoperative parametres. Another important finding was the statistically minor consumption of analgesics in the test group in the postoperative period.Key words: impaction, third molar, oral surgery, prophylaxis, antibiotics.