Should systemic antibiotics be prescribed in periodontal abscesses and pericoronitis? A systematic review of the literature.

This study assessed whether systemic antibiotics are beneficial or harmful in patients who present with an acute periodontal abscess or pericoronitis, with or without systemic involvement, and, if antibiotics are beneficial, which type, dosage, and duration are the most effective. Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were screened from 1948 up to 1 April 2022 for systematic reviews, randomised clinical trials (RCTs), and other studies. Dedicated websites were consulted for systematic reviews, clinical practice guidelines, and health technology assessments on the topic. Outcomes of interest comprised tooth survival, swelling, pain, tooth mobility, periodontal probing depth, suppuration, adverse effects, quality of life measurements, and medication required for pain relief. Overall, five guidelines, seven systematic reviews, 15 RCTs, and 34 other studies were identified and selected for full-text assessment, but none of them fulfilled the inclusion criteria. At present there is no single randomised or non-randomised controlled trial assessing the harms and clinical effectiveness of systemic antibiotics in adults with a periodontal abscess or pericoronitis.

A Review of Evidence-Based Recommendations for Pericoronitis Management and a Systematic Review of Antibiotic Prescribing for Pericoronitis among Dentists: Inappropriate Pericoronitis Treatment Is a Critical Factor of Antibiotic Overuse in Dentistry.

This work provides a narrative review covering evidence-based recommendations for pericoronitis management (Part A) and a systematic review of antibiotic prescribing for pericoronitis from January 2000 to May 2021 (Part B). Part A presents the most recent, clinically significant, and evidence-based guidance for pericoronitis diagnosis and proper treatment recommending the local therapy over antibiotic prescribing, which should be reserved for severe conditions. The systematic review includes publications analyzing sets of patients treated for pericoronitis and questionnaires that identified dentists' therapeutic approaches to pericoronitis. Questionnaires among dentists revealed that almost 75% of them prescribed antibiotics for pericoronitis, and pericoronitis was among the top 4 in the frequency of antibiotic use within the surveyed diagnoses and situations. Studies involving patients showed that antibiotics were prescribed to more than half of the patients with pericoronitis, and pericoronitis was among the top 2 in the frequency of antibiotic use within the monitored diagnoses and situations. The most prescribed antibiotics for pericoronitis were amoxicillin and metronidazole. The systematic review results show abundant and unnecessary use of antibiotics for pericoronitis and are in strong contrast to evidence-based recommendations summarized in the narrative review. Adherence of dental professionals to the recommendations presented in this work can help rapidly reduce the duration of pericoronitis, prevent its complications, and reduce the use of antibiotics and thus reduce its impact on patients' quality of life, healthcare costs, and antimicrobial resistance development.

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and the Use of Oral and Topical Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs for Pericoronitis.

BACKGROUND Pericoronitis is inflammation of the tissue surrounding a third molar, or wisdom tooth. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of oral and topical analgesic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL), in terms of oral health and lifestyle, in patients with symptomatic pericoronitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 60 patients who presented with pericoronitis and who did not undergo surgery within the following seven days. The patients were randomly assigned to three groups and were treated with oral diclofenac (N=20), oral flurbiprofen (N=20), and topical benzydamine (N=20). OHQoL was assessed for all study participants with a self-reported eight-item scale that was developed to evaluate pericoronitis. The total OHQoL scores were calculated for each day during the seven-day study period. RESULTS The study group treated with topical benzydamine had a significantly greater improvement in the OHQoL scores compared with the oral diclofenac and oral flurbiprofen groups on the first four days. Comparison of patients treated with diclofenac and flurbiprofen showed no significant differences for all seven days. A significant initial improvement in OHQoL was found on day 1 for the benzydamine group, on day 2 for the flurbiprofen group, and day 3 for the diclofenac group. CONCLUSIONS In this study, topical benzydamine was found to be a more effective alternative to oral NSAID analgesics, diclofenac and flurbiprofen, in improving OHQoL in patients with pericoronitis.

Evaluation of photodynamic therapy in pericoronitis: Protocol of randomized, controlled, double-blind study.

INTRODUCTION: Pericoronitis is a common disease in the eruption phase of third molars, sometimes debilitating, with an impact on the quality of life. The most indicated treatment in the initial phase is the irrigation for cleanliness of the region. In order to reduce the chances of systemic dissemination of the infection and antibiotics use, it is mandatory to test effective treatments in the initial phase of pericoronitis avoiding the evolution of the infectious disease. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an interesting alternative because it is an effective antimicrobial treatment that is easy to perform and does not select bacterial resistance. The methylene blue (MB) used in PDT has been studied in an oral formulation, which optimizes the formation of monomers increasing its antimicrobial action. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of PDT with MB in an astringent vehicle in pericoronitis on the initial phase in healthy patients through microbiological, clinical, and immune response. The impact of pericoronitis on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of these patients will also be evaluated. METHOD: In this randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical bioequivalence protocol, 64 healthy patients with pericoronitis will be evaluated. Patients will be randomized into the positive control group (G1) (n = 32): irrigation with sterile saline and PDT (conventional MB at 0.005% concentration and irradiation with low intensity laser λ = 660 nm, 9J per point and radiant exposure of 318 J/cm), and the experimental group (G2) (n = 32): treatment identical to G1, however, MB will be delivered in a new formulation for oral use. Microbiological analysis will be performed by RT-PCR for the bacterium Tannerella forsythia. Gingival crevicular fluid and saliva will be collected to evaluate cytokines by Luminex assay (Luminex Corporation, Austin, TX). The pain (visual analogue scale), swelling and buccal opening (digital caliper), and OHRQoL will also be evaluated through the OHIP-14 questionnaire. The variables will be evaluated in T1 (baseline), T2 (immediately after PDT), and T3 (4th day after PDT). Registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT03576105. Registered in July 2018.

An audit of antimicrobial prescribing in an acute dental care department.

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem that is likely to have a major negative impact on healthcare in the future. Dentists have a key role in ensuring that antimicrobials are prescribed correctly to reduce the emergence of resistant strains. OBJECTIVE: To audit how appropriately antimicrobials were prescribed in the oral surgery acute dental department of Guy's Hospital in London, when compared to the standards set within the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) and Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness guidelines on antimicrobial prescribing in dentistry. TARGET: 100% compliance. METHOD: A prospective audit consisting of two cycles (each including 60 patients) was carried out. Between each cycle, there was a two-month intervention period, which included extensive training and education of staff and students. RESULTS: Cycle 1 showed that only 30% of prescriptions were appropriate and only 62% of practitioners were recording a diagnosis. After two months of intervention, cycle 2 was carried out; this showed a significant improvement, with 80% of prescriptions being appropriate and 100% of practitioners recording a diagnosis. The majority of inappropriate prescriptions in both cycles were for acute pulpitis without evidence of systemic involvement. CONCLUSION: This audit has shown that clinical practice for antimicrobial prescribing did not follow the published guidelines. Following targeted interventions, a substantial improvement was made in the prescribing pattern. The target of 100% has not been reached, necessitating further intervention.

Effect of Mercurius solubilis on the bacteriological response in the alveolitis process in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the bacteriological response in alveolitis in rats treated with the homeopathic medicine Merc solubilis (Merc sol.) 12 cH. METHODS: The study was randomized and observer blind. The animals were anesthetized and the upper right incisor extracted resulting in alveolitis. Animals were randomly assigned to groups (n=18/group): Water control, Alcohol control and Merc sol. 12 cH. These groups were subsequently divided into 3 subgroups (n=6/subgroup): Early Euthanasia (EE), Mid Euthanasia (ME) and Late Euthanasia (LE), killed at the 6th, 15th and 21st days respectively. The perialveolar microbiota was collected by swab in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) for seeding and bacterioscopy. After seeding, the Petri dishes were incubated at 37 degrees C for 48 h. RESULTS: Quantitative and qualitative changes were observed in the perialveolar microbiota when the groups were compared. Water control and Alcohol control had the highest counts of pathogenic bacteria, the microbiotica of the Merc sol. group remained closer to normal. CONCLUSIONS: Merc sol. 12 cH did not reduce bacterial growth, but the microbiotica remained within the parameters of normality, obtaining the best results at 21 days after treatment.

Nonsurgical treatment of moderate and advanced periimplantitis lesions: a controlled clinical study.

The aim of this controlled, parallel design clinical study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an Er:YAG (erbium-doped:yttrium, aluminum, and garnet) laser for nonsurgical treatment of periimplantitis lesions. Twenty patients, each of whom displayed at least one implant with (a) moderate and (b) advanced periimplantitis (n=40 implants; IMZ, ITI, Spline Twist, ZL-Duraplant, Camlog), were randomly instrumented nonsurgically using either (1) an Er:YAG laser (100 mJ/pulse, 10 Hz) device (LAS) or (2) mechanical debridement using plastic curettes and antiseptic therapy with chlorhexidine digluconate (0.2%) (C). The following clinical parameters were measured at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment: plaque index, bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth, gingival recession, and clinical attachment level (CAL). Mean BOP improved significantly in both groups at 3, 6, and 12 months (a- lesions: P<0.001 and b- lesions: P<0.01, respectively). After 3 and 6 months, the mean reduction of BOP was significantly higher in the LAS group when compared to the C group (a- and b- lesions: P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). At 3 and 6 months, both groups revealed significant CAL gains at a- and b- lesions (P<0.01, respectively). In both groups, however, the mean CAL at a- and b- lesions was not significantly different from the respective baseline values at 12 months (P>0.05, respectively). Although treatment of periimplantitis lesions with LAS resulted in a significantly higher BOP reduction than C, its effectiveness seemed to be limited to a period of 6 months, particularly at b- lesions.

Severe odontogenic infections, part 1: prospective report.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate a series of patients with severe odontogenic infections (OI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, 37 consecutive hospitalized patients with odontogenic infection were treated with intravenous penicillin (PCN) (unless allergic), and prompt incision and drainage. Standardized data collection included demographic, preadmission, time-related, preoperative, anatomic, treatment, microbiologic, and complications information. Appropriate descriptive statistics were computed. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 37 subjects (38% female) with a mean age of 34.9 years. Three subjects (8%) had immunocompromising diseases. Caries was the most frequent dental disease (65%) and the lower third molar was the most frequently involved tooth (68%). Trismus and dysphagia were present on admission in over 70% of cases. The masticator, perimandibular (submandibular, submental, and/or sublingual), and peripharyngeal (lateral pharyngeal, retropharyngeal, and/or pretracheal) spaces were infected in 78%, 60%, and 43% of cases, respectively. Abscess was found in 76% of cases. PCN-resistant organisms were identified in 19% of all strains isolated and in 54% of patients with sensitivity data. PCN therapeutic failure occurred in 21% of cases and reoperation was required in 8%. Length of hospital stay was 5.1 +/- 3.0 days. No deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that PCN resistance, resulting in PCN therapeutic failure, was unacceptably high in this sample. Alternative antibiotics, such as clindamycin, should be considered in hospitalized patients with OI. Masticator space infection occurred much more frequently than previously reported. Trismus and dysphagia should be appreciated as significant indicators of severe OI.

Evaluation of the mandibular third molar pericoronitis flora and its susceptibility to different antibiotics prescribed in france.

This work assessed the polymicrobial flora of mandibular third molar pericoronitis. Obligate anaerobes were found in almost all cases (32 of 35). Amoxicillin and pristinamycin were the most effective against the flora, particularly aerobic organisms. Metronidazole alone or combined with spiramycin was the most effective drug against obligate anaerobes.

A study of therapeutic antibiotic prescribing in National Health Service general dental practice in England.

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic prescribing of antibiotics by general dental practitioners. DESIGN: A postal questionnaire of National Health Service general dental practitioners in ten English Health Authorities. SUBJECTS: General dental practitioners (1,544) contracted to provide NHS treatment in the Health Authorities of Liverpool, Wirral, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Nottingham, North Nottinghamshire, Sheffield, Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The questionnaires were analysed and the responses to each question expressed as absolute frequencies. RESULTS: Responses to the questionnaire were received from 929 (60.1%) practitioners. More than 95% of practitioners recognised the need for prescribing antibiotics where there was evidence of spreading infection. Some practitioners (12.5%) prescribed antibiotics for acute pulpitis and (3.3%) for chronic marginal gingivitis. Antibiotics were prescribed by practitioners before drainage of acute abscesses (69%) and by 23% after drainage. Practitioners were generally not influenced by patient's expectations of receiving antibiotics (92%), but would prescribe when under pressure of time (30.3%), if they were unable to make a definitive diagnosis (47.3%), or if treatment had to be delayed (72.5%). Amoxicillin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic used for most clinical conditions apart from pericoronitis, acute ulcerative gingivitis and dry sockets where metronidazole was the drug of choice. There was a wide variety of dosage, frequency and duration for all the antibiotics used in the treatment of acute dental infections. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained from this questionnaire support the conclusion that the therapeutic prescribing of antibiotics in general dental practice varies widely and is suboptimal. There is a clear need for the development of prescribing guidelines and educational initiatives to encourage the rational and appropriate use of the antibiotics in National Health Service general dental practice.

Antimicrobial management of third molars: survey results for military dentists.

In a survey of military dentists to examine use of antimicrobial agents in the management of third molars, questions addressed use of antibiotics and an antimicrobial rinse in treating pericoronitis and third molar extractions. Results were compared with information from a literature review. According to the survey, a majority of clinicians use antibiotics to treat pericoronitis but not surgical extraction of asymptomatic dental impactions. About 60 percent of respondents use a preoperative rinse with chlorhexidine in treating the third molar conditions discussed. A postoperative rinse with chlorhexidine was used less frequently. Half the respondents listed medicolegal factors in their decisions.

[Comparative clinical study of azithromycin with tosufloxacin tosilate in the treatment of acute odontogenic infection].

To objectively assess azithromycin (AZM) for its clinical efficacy, safety and usefulness in the treatment of acute odontogenic infections (periodontitis, pericoronitis and osteitis of the jaw), a double-blind, randomized, multi-center trial was conducted in which tosufloxacin tosilate (TFLX) was used as the control drug. AZM was administered to 90 patients at a once-daily 500 mg dose for 3 days, while TFLX was given to 90 patients at a 150 mg t.i.d. dose for 7 days. 1. The clinical efficacy rates calculated according to evaluation at an endpoint set on the 3rd day of treatment by a committee of experts were 85.9% (73/85) in the AZM group and 78.9% (71/90) in the TFLX group. No statistically significant difference between the treatment groups was detected, and clinical equivalence was verified (p = 0.002). 2. The clinical efficacy rates according to evaluations made by investigators at the end-of-tail point was 87.1% (74/85) in the AZM group and 73.3% (66/90) in the TFLX group. The efficacy rate in the AZM group was higher than that in the TFLX group, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.006). 3. The bacteriological elimination rate in the AZM group was 97.5% (39/40) and that in the TFLX group was 85.7% (30/35), but the difference was deemed statistically not significant. 4. Adverse reactions were observed in 11 of 88 cases (12.5%) in the AZM group and 5 of 90 cases (5.6%) in the TFLX group. Six of 85 cases (7.1%) in the AZM group and 5 of 85 cases (5.9%) in the TFLX group showed laboratory abnormalities. However, neither adverse reactions nor laboratory abnormalities showed any differences in statistical significance between the treatment groups. 5. The safety rates, expressed as percentages of cases with no adverse events and no laboratory abnormalities, was 84.1% (74/88) in the AZM group and 90.0% (81/90) in the TFLX group. The difference between the two groups was found to be statistically insignificant. 6. The usefulness rates, the ratio of cases rated as either "Very useful" or "Useful", was 83.9% (73/87) in the AZM group, and it was statistically higher (p = 0.025) than 72.2% (65/90) obtained for TFLX group. Judging from the above results, it has been concluded that AZM is as useful as TFLX in the treatment of acute dental infections.

Symptoms from impacted wisdom teeth.

A study of patients referred for wisdom teeth removal was carried out, to investigate symptoms prior to consultation and during the period on the waiting list for surgery. The reasons for treatment of asymptomatic wisdom teeth were investigated. Pain was the main indication for surgery in 73.7% of patients waiting for consultation. 168 patients waiting for consultation consumed a total of 271 courses of antibiotics, averaging 1.6 courses of antibiotics per patient. The antibiotic consumption increased to an average of 2.5 courses per patient in 94 patients waiting for operation. 67 out of 423 patients had an average of three lost working days due to symptoms from wisdom teeth. The long waiting list for consultation and treatment added further to the discomfort. The extent of symptoms from wisdom teeth may be underestimated.

Pericoronitis and accidental paracetamol overdose: a cautionary tale.

A case of accidental paracetamol overdose in a patient suffering from pericoronitis is described. Self-medication with paracetamol was exacerbated by the prescription of a compound analgesic containing paracetamol by the patient's dental practitioner. The consequent overdose of paracetamol resulted in liver toxicity and acute liver failure. The hazards of accidental paracetamol overdose are discussed and analgesic preparations containing paracetamol described.

Multicenter double-blind study of the efficacy and tolerance of roxithromycin versus erythromycin ethylsuccinate in acute orodental infection in adults. Odontogenic Infections Study Group.

A total of 194 patients with orodental infection were randomized either to roxithromycin 150 mg twice daily plus placebo or to erythromycin 1 g twice daily plus placebo for a mean duration of 8 days. The infections consisted of cellulitis, pericoronitis, and adenopathy, or any two in combination. In the 176 cases in which efficacy was evaluable, outcome was satisfactory in 94% and 91% of cases treated with roxithromycin and erythromycin, respectively (p = 0.45). Patients were evenly distributed with respect to demographic characteristics, diagnosis, and concomitant treatment. Surgery was performed in 63%, primarily for abscess formation in cellulitis (p less than 0.001); 18% of patients with an abscess did not undergo surgery. The success rate was identical irrespective of whether surgery was performed, including in those with an abscess. Tolerance was evaluated in 1986 patients. Unwanted effects, elicited by direct questioning, were reported in approximately 20% of cases per group (19% for roxithromycin and 21% for erythromycin). They consisted of mild gastrointestinal upsets which caused treatment to be withdrawn in eight cases (four per group). Thus, roxithromycin and erythromycin twice daily for orodental infection are similar in both efficacy and tolerance.

British oral and maxillofacial surgeons' views on the aetiology and management of acute pericoronitis.

Acute pericoronitis is a common oral infection characterised by a predominance of anaerobic micro-organisms such as peptococci, peptostreptococci, bacteroides and fusobacteria, and also spirochaetes. Penicillins such as amoxycillin, and metronidazole are effective antimicrobials in the treatment of acute pericoronitis. This study presents the views of a group of British Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons as to the causative microbial agents and the antimicrobial management of acute pericoronitis.

[Clinical evaluation of cefuroxime axetil in acute dental infections. Double blind comparative study vs. cefaclor].

To evaluate objectively clinical efficacy, safety and usefulness of cefuroxime axetil (CXM-AX) in acute dental infections (periodontitis, pericoronitis and gnathitis), we carried out a comparison study using cefaclor (CCL) as the control. Both drugs were orally given after meals in a dose level of 250 mg (potency) t.i.d. for 3-7 days. 1. Clinical efficacy rates in all the treated cases were 81.6% (102/125) in the CXM-AX group and 82.5% (104/126) in the CCL group according to the assessment by physicians in charge, and 89.6% (112/125) and 83.3% (105/126), respectively, according to the assessment based on scores. No significant difference was found between the 2 treatment groups. In clinical efficacy (assessment by score) classified by background factors, efficacy rate in the CXM-AX group (90.6%, 58/64) was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than that in the CCL group (75.0%, 48/64) in cases receiving no surgical treatment on the first day of drug administration. Other background factors than the above (no surgical treatment) factor or scores on the first day of drug administration, however, did not appear to influence clinical efficacies of 2 treatment groups. 2. As for the bacteriological response in all the treated cases, elimination rate in the CXM-AX group was 73.7% (28/38) and that in the CCL group, 78.3% (36/46), without significant difference between the 2 groups. 3. Regarding the safety, no significant difference was found between the 2 treatment groups. Adverse reactions were observed in 1 out of 128 cases (0.8%) in the CXM-AX group and 6 out of 132 cases (4.5%) in the CCL group. Abnormal laboratory test values were noted in 8 out of 86 cases (9.3%) in the CXM-AX group and 5 out of 91 cases (5.5%) in the CCL group. None of these differences between 2 treatment groups was statistically significant. 4. Usefulness rates in all the treated cases were 81.6% (102/125) in the CXM-AX group and 81.7% (103/126) in the CCL group, thus significant difference was observed between the 2 groups. From the above results, CXM-AX is considered to be a useful drug like CCL in the treatment of acute dental infections.