Efficacy and safety comparison of two amoxicillin administration schedules after third molar removal. A randomized, double-blind and controlled clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this comparative double-blind, prospective, randomized, clinical trial was to evaluate two amoxicillin administration patterns. The first was a short prophylactic therapy and the second a long postoperative regimen.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 160 patients who underwent mandibular third molar extraction. Patients were randomized into two equal groups. In group 1, 2 grams of amoxicillin were administered 1 hour before the procedure and 1 gram 6 hours after surgery. In group 2, patients received 1 gram of amoxicillin 6 hours after surgery followed by 1 gram every 8 hour for 4 days. All patients received the same number of tablets thanks to the use of placebo pills. A total of 25 variables were evaluated, such as alveolitis, surgical infection, number of analgesic needed, subjective pain scale, post-surgical inflammation, consistency of the diet, axillary temperature and millimeters of mouth opening loss after the surgery.


RESULTS
No statistically significant post-operative differences were found within the recorded parameters between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative 4-days amoxicillin therapy is not justified.
Luaces-Rey
Ramón
R
Servicio de Cirugía Maxilofacial, Complejo Hospitalari A Coruña, As Xubias, 15006 A Coruña, Spain. ramon.luaces.rey@sergas.es
Arenaz-Búa
Jorge
J
Lopez-Cedrun-Cembranos
José-Luis
JL
Martínez-Roca
Cristina
C
Pértega-Díaz
Sonia
S
Sironvalle-Soliva
Sheyla
S
D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014081:Tooth Extraction
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000658:Amoxicillin