Should prophylactic antibiotics be used for patients having removal of erupted teeth?

Generally, antibiotics should not be required before the removal of erupted carious or periodontally involved teeth unless a significant risk of postoperative infection is present. The decision to use prophylactic antibiotics in noninfected cases should also be based on whether patients have any significant medical risk factors that could adversely affect their humoral and cellular defense mechanisms, and whether any systemic risks are associated with the bacteremia that accompanies tooth extraction. This article discusses the various indications for using prophylactic antibiotics in patients having erupted teeth extracted based on a consideration of these factors.