"Is Antibiotic Therapy Necessary for Patients Undergoing Extraction of Teeth With Abscess?"

This is a triple-blind randomized controlled trial conducted at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Subbaiah Institute of Dental Sciences, Shimoga. The study enrolls 176 adult patients aged above 18 years belonging to ASA class 1 or 2, requiring intra-alveolar extraction of non-restorable carious teeth with radiographic evidence of periapical abscess of less than 1.5 cm in diameter. Patients are randomly allocated into two equal groups of 88 each. Group A receives postoperative Amoxicillin 500 mg thrice daily for 5 days in addition to standard analgesics. Group B receives only standard analgesics with no antibiotic prescription. The primary outcome measure is wound healing assessed on postoperative day 5 using a modified Landry Wound Healing Index evaluating gingival tissue color, response to palpation, presence of granulation tissue, and suppuration.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged above 18 years * Patients who are willing to participate in the study * Patients requiring extraction of non-restorable carious teeth with radiographic evidence of periapical abscess (\< 1.5cm diameter ill-defined, diffused periapical radiolucent lesion ) * Patients who come under ASA class 1 and 2 classification Exclusion Criteria: * Patients requiring trans-alveolar extraction * Patients with known Penicillin allergy * Pregnant women * Patients undergoing antibiotic therapy perioperatively * Patients not complying with follow-up