Combined application of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid after oral surgical interventions

Abstract

Antibiotics represent a powerful weapon against infections. As dentists, we are faced almost on a daily basis with the need to proscribe antibiotics. At the same time, we can often see that the use of the antibiotic tends to get out of control or that they are used indiscriminately with no real need. The aim of this case study is to investigate the effectiveness of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid combination in various dental ailments but also to demonstrate a possible difference in the severity of symptoms after the use of amoxicillin and antibiotic combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid after surgical and oral interventions. The investigation involved 102 patients who were divided into two groups (the first group consisting of 59 and the second one of 43 patients). Following surgical treatment, the first group of patients was proscribed antibiotic combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in the dosage of 625 mg, 3 times per day. The second group of 43 patients was proscribed amoxicillin in the dosage of 500 mg, 4 times per day. The recommended therapy for the antibiotic combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid was 5 to 10 days after the operation and 8 to 10 days for amoxicillin. In other words, both groups of patients started to use antibiotics after the surgical or oral intervention such as operative removal of impacted wisdom teeth, apicotomy or complicated extractions, and also after the treatment of odontogenic abscesses, etc. The same parameters were measured prior to the surgical intervention in cases when patients demonstrated the symptoms before the operational treatment while in all other cases the parameters were measured 48 hours and seven days following the operation. The measured parameters were: pain, swelling, body temperature, dysfunction such as dysphagus trismus, chewing disorder and possible allergic or gastrointestinal reactions. All parameters observed were precisely set in order to harmonize the investigation criteria and facilitate statistical data processing. With respect to pain before the operation there was no substantial statistical difference, p>0.05 (t=0.56; t=0.69). With respect to the onset of pain and the use of antibiotics after 48 hours, there is a significant difference in favor of the antibiotic combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (x= 14.83, p= 0.002; p <0.01). Thus, pain is less acute if the antibiotic combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid is administered. With respect to swelling and administration of antibiotics 48 hours after the operation there is no significant difference between the use of the two antibiotic therapies (x= 4.89; p=0.18; p>0.05). The investigation conducted seven days after the operation with regard to pain and the use of either antibiotic therapies demonstrated significant statistical difference (x=9-35, p<0.01) in favor of the antibiotic combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. In other words, patients who used amoxicillin and clavulanic acid felt significantly less intense pain. With respect to swelling, the significant statistical difference between the two groups of patients was established in favor of the antibiotic combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, i.e. p<0.05 (x=6.45, p=0.03). The combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic has proven to be significantly more effective in comparison with the use of amoxicillin after oral - surgical interventions, and therefore the antibiotic combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid is recommended for use in further practice.