A Randomized Controlled Triple Blind Clinical Study to Determine the Need of Antibiotics Following Simple Exodontia

Objective:Determine the need for post procedural antibiotics following simple exodontia by dividing the patients in various groups based on each quadrant of the jaw which needs extraction and to compare the same with a control group so as to have unbiased results with similar standards.Material and Methods:A randomized controlled triple blinded study was conducted with 1600 healthy patients randomized into two groups: Group A received only pain killers and Group B received both antibiotics and pain killers post regular dental extraction. Each group was further divided into four subgroups based on the quadrant to which the extracted tooth belonged (ie. Maxillary anteriors/posteriors, mandibular anterior/posteriors). Patients were reviewed on the 3rd and 7th postoperative days for signs of infection and complications.Results:There was no incidence of major infection or dry socket in both groups. VAS scores were higher on the 3rd post-operative day in the test group but declined by day 7. Overall, the incidence of swelling (mild swelling-13.3%) and trismus (0.9%) was low suggesting that analgesics alone are adequate to post simple exodontia.Conclusion:Routine antibiotics are not required for regular dental extraction of maxillary and mandibular anterior and posterior teeth.