Efficacy of two antibiotic regimens in the reduction of early dental implant failure: a pilot study

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of two antibiotic regimens in reducing early dental implant failure. A preoperative single-dose regimen and a 3-day antibiotic course were compared. Eighty subjects needing dental implant placement were randomly allocated to one of the two antibiotic prophylaxis regimen groups. In the first group, dental implants were placed after the administration of a single preoperative dose of antibiotic (1 g of amoxicillin); no postoperative antibiotics were given. In the second group, dental implants were inserted in patients who received the same preoperative dose of antibiotic as the first group, but the antibiotic was then continued postoperatively for 3 days. Patients returned for postoperative evaluation at 3 days, 7 days, and 12 weeks. The surgical sites were assessed for pain, swelling, wound dehiscence, and pus formation. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups, probably because of the limited number of patients. Although minor complications were seen in a few patients, all implants were successfully osseointegrated. Until a study with a larger population rules definitively on the role of antibiotics in implant surgery, a single dose of antibiotic before implant placement may be sufficient.