Effectiveness of Antibiotics in Management of Periodontal Abscess

Objectives: To compare between groups receiving scaling and root planing (SRP) alone and with adjunctive use of antibiotics in
1. Immediate resolution of signs and symptoms (pain, swelling, redness, exudation, loss of function and trismus) at baseline and 1 week post operative
2. Clinical periodontal parameters (Clinical attachment level, Probing pocket depth, Gingival recession) at baseline and 3 months post operative.
Methods: 36 patients satisfying inclusion criteria were recruited in the study and divided into two groups; Group A-scaling and root planing without antibiotics and Group B-scaling and root planning with antibiotics (Amoxicillin, 1gm loading dose orally followed by 500mg tid for a period of 3 days). For both the groups, examination was done at baseline and 1 week post operatively to assess responses with respect to pain, redness, swelling, exudation, loss of function and trismus in the treated site. Clinical periodontal parameters (Clinical attachment level, Probing pocket depth, Gingival recession) were assessed at baseline and 3 months post operatively.
Results: There were no statistically significant difference in parameters between both groups.
Conclusions: Use of adjunctive antibiotic therapy did not demonstrate any significant difference in clinical outcome .These observations ascertain the finding that mechanical therapy does play an important role in reducing the foci of infection and is considered as a valid treatment approach in management of periodontal abscess.