Antibiotic use prior to dental extractions

Investigators assessed the relationship between antibiotic prophylaxis and adverse outcomes after dental extractions.

In a retrospective cohort study published in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry, the investigators analyzed the outcomes of patients who underwent dental extractions between 2015 and 2019. They identified complications such as alveolar osteitis and surgical site infections within seven days after the procedure.

The investigators noted that more than 30% of the patients received antibiotic prophylaxis and just fewer than 1% of them experienced postoperative complications. Among the patients, antibiotic prophylaxis was not linked to a reduced risk of postextraction complications compared with no antibiotic prophylaxis.

The findings demonstrated that antibiotics may not offer protective effects against postextraction complications. The investigators concluded that the use of antibiotics should be reevaluated in certain clinical settings to minimize unnecessary administration.

Read more: Journal of Public Health Dentistry

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