Antibiotic prophylaxis in third molar surgery.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To evaluate the role of prophylactic antibiotics, if any, in the removal of mandibular impacted third molars. PATIENTS AND 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.