title: Antibiotic prophylaxis in third molar surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of prophylactic antibiotics, if any, in the removal of mandibular impacted third molars.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 89 patients were randomly allocated in 3 groups (group 1, placebo; group 2, amoxicillin 1 g orally 1 h before surgery; and group 3, metronidazole 800 mg orally 1 h before surgery).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 89 patients, 5 had surgical wound infection (3 [10.33%] in group 1, 2 [6.45%] in group 2, and none [0%] in group 3), leading to an overall infection rate of 5.61%. There was no statistically significant difference found in surgical wound infection between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study failed to show any advantage in the routine use of prophylactic antibiotics because we found no statistically significant difference between the groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Kalitheerthalkuppam, Pondicherry, Union Territory, India.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pasupathy
authors.forename: Mohan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008795:Metronidazole; D000658:Amoxicillin