A Comparative Clinical Study to Assess the Role of Antibiotics in Periodontal Flap Surgery

INTRODUCTION: Periodontitis is a multifaceted disease that results from the intricate interplay of infectious pathogens and host factors. Periodontal surgical techniques may be required in moderate to severe cases of chronic periodontitis. As a result of the potential for postoperative infection to have a substantial impact on the surgical outcome, an attempt will be made in the study to assess the role of antibiotics in periodontal flap procedures in minimizing postoperative infections. METHODOLOGY: From the Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, 30 patients (male and female) with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis were chosen. Amoxicillin 500 mg three times a day for 5 days following surgery was given in the therapeutic group (15 patients). Antibiotics were not provided to the control group (15 patients) after surgery. Both groups were administered analgesics and antiseptic mouthwash. On the seventh day after suture removal, patients were assessed for pain (measured on a visual analogue scale [VAS]), modified gingival index, wound healing index, swelling, fever, ulceration, and delayed wound healing. RESULTS: The VAS reported in the control group was 2.67, while the VAS recorded in the therapeutic group was 2.20. The mean modified gingival index score in the control group was 0.94, while it was 0.67 in the therapeutic group. The mean Wound Healing Index score in the control group was 3.80, whereas it was 3.97 in the therapeutic group. When antibiotics were administered to patients, they reported less pain and faster wound healing. Following flap surgery with or without antibiotics, however, there were no statistically significant variations in all clinical measures. CONCLUSION: The findings of our study imply that antibiotics for the sole goal of avoiding postsurgical infections may not be beneficial.