Summary
The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate the efficacy of antibiotics in retained third molar extractions, determining the need of antibiotics prophylaxis use in these procedures. Fourteen (14) patients, aged between 15 and 30 years, irrespective of sex, color or race were selected, for removal of retained third molars in symmetrical positions. The surgeries were divided into two groups: the control group in the first surgery and the second group undergoing prophylactic administration of 500 mg of amoxicillin 8 / 8 hours, for seven days after surgery. The evaluation of edema was established by the distance of reference points and assessment of facial trismus and was obtained by top and bottom interincisal distance. Measurements were performed before and after surgery, 24, 48 hours and for 7 days. Pain was evaluated subjectively by a visual analog scale. There was no statistically significant difference with respect to swelling and trismus after dental extractions with or without the use of antibiotics, and there was statistically significant difference in relation to pain in the postoperative periods of 24 and 48 hours, and increased pain reported by the test group. At day seven no differences were noted in perception of pain between the groups. Finally, the amoxicillin therapy subsequent to the third molar surgery is not related to the postoperatory conditions of the patient.
KEY WORDS: antibiotic therapy, edema, trismus, third molar surgery.
How to cite this article
DE MOURA, W. L.; DE MOURA, W. L.; FREIRE, S. A. S. R.; MENDES, S. M. & OLATE, S. Efficacy of amoxicillin treatment in preventing postoperative complications in patients undergoing third molar surgery: a double blind study. Int. J. Odontostomat., 5(2):147-152, 2011.
