ORAL HEALTH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROGRAM
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| Title |
There Is Insufficient Evidence to Support the Use of Systemic Antibiotics to Prevent Postoperative Endodontic Flare-Ups |
| Clinical Question |
Is the incidence of postoperative endodontic flare-ups lower if antibiotics are given compared to endodontic therapy without antibiotics? |
| Clinical Bottom Line |
There is insufficient evidence to support the use of systemic antibiotics to prevent postoperative endodontic flare-ups. |
| Best Evidence |
(you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link) |
| PubMed ID |
Author / Year |
Patient Group |
Study type
(level of evidence) |
| #1) 24967571 | Cope/2014 | 62 participants in 2 trials | Systematic review of randomized trials | | Key results | There is insufficient evidence on the efficacy of systemic antibiotics to prevent flare-ups following endodontic therapy in adults. The two included studies reported no significant difference in pain or swelling between patients receiving antibiotics and those receiving placebo. In both studies, patients were given the test medication in conjunction with analgesics. | |
| Evidence Search |
flare-ups[All Fields] AND ("anti-bacterial agents"[Pharmacological Action] OR "anti-bacterial agents"[MeSH Terms] OR ("anti-bacterial"[All Fields] AND "agents"[All Fields]) OR "anti-bacterial agents"[All Fields] OR "antibiotics"[All Fields]) |
Comments on
The Evidence |
Validity: Both included studies were randomized controlled trials. One study had a high risk of bias, and the other study had an unclear risk of bias. The review included only two studies, and the sample size for both studies was small.
Perspective: |
| Applicability |
These findings are applicable to all clinicians performing endodontic therapy. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of systemic antibiotics following endodontic therapy for the prevention of posttreatment pain and/or swelling. Clinicians should judiciously prescribe systemic antibiotics to their patients to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. |
| Specialty/Discipline |
(Endodontics) (General Dentistry) |
| Keywords |
Systemic antibiotics, postoperative endodontic treatment, flare-ups
|
| ID# |
2814 |
| Date of submission: |
03/17/2015 |
| E-mail |
trana2@livemail.uthscsa.edu |
| Author |
Aimy Tran |
| Co-author(s) |
|
| Co-author(s) e-mail |
|
| Faculty mentor/Co-author |
James Ball, DDS |
| Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail |
BallJ@uthscsa.edu |
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?) |
post a rationale |
| None available | |
|
Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs) |
post a comment |
| None available | |
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