Post-operative antibiotics and analgesics in infection control and pain management-decision analysis

Abstract

The antibiotics in endodontics, both systemic and local, play a vital role in the success of treatment. Good understanding of the microbiology of various endodontic diseases, the specific antibiotics that are effective against specific aerobic and anaero-bic microorganisms should be analysed before prescribing the antibiotics. The aim of this review was to develop a decision tree for the appropriate usage of antibiotics and analgesics in treating the endodontic infections. A brief pubmed search was performed on antibiotics in Endodontics using “MesH” terms, “resistance” and “endodontic microbiology”, “antibiotics in Endodontics”, “locally used antibiotics”. In addition some websites and local guidelines were screened. By developing and adhering to strict protocols in analyzing the endodontic infection and appropriate prescription of antibiotics, the development of antibiotic resistance can be minimised greatly. With a decision tree, the diagnosis and pharmacological management of the pulpal and periapical diseases becomes easier for the dentist in regular clinical practice. In this respect, active management of the infection combining non-pharmacological and pharmacological means can be done with sound knowledge on the endo-dontic microbiology, various antibiotics used, and their mechanism of action and appropriate dosage of the drug.