Necessity of Antibiotics to Reduce Inflammatory Complications after Third Molar Extractions: A Prospective Study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between the usage of antibiotics postoperatively and inflammatory complications following third molar extractions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample was derived from Saudi Arabia private practitioners who were oral surgeons and was randomly categorized into two groups: group A, who took postoperative antibiotics, and group B, who have not taken antibiotics. The observed primary variable was the occurrence of inflammatory complications subsequent to removal of third molar. RESULTS: The data were obtained from 35 oral surgeons, who gave details about 725 patients in whom 965 third molars were removed. A total of 455 (62.75%) patients have taken antibiotics postoperatively. The mean age was 28 ± 14.8 years. We noticed a very high male preponderance of 543 (74.89%). Mean body mass index was 26.7 ± 6.3 kg/m(2). The mean Preoperative Disease Severity Score and Operative Difficulty Score was 2.13 ± 2.1 and 12.1 ± 6.3, respectively. CONCLUSION: Fewer postoperative inflammatory complications were observed in subjects who have taken antibiotics after third molar removal.