Augmentin
Amoxicillin With Clavulanic Acid
Common brand name: Augmentin.
Dental uses: Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid is used in dental infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to common penicillins (penicillin VK, ampicillin and amoxicillin). The clavulanic acid inhibits an enzyme produced by some bacteria that destroys penicillins.
Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid is used for complicated tooth and endodontic infections and abscesses, especially those extending into the sinuses, gums and bone. It frequently is used for gum infections against which other drugs have been shown to be ineffective.
It also is becoming a popular antibiotic prescribed in dental-implant cases when part of the implant is placed in the maxillary sinus. Many times a dentist will collect a sample of the infected area and send it to a medical laboratory for a culture and sensitivity test prior to prescribing Augmentin. For routine dental infections not caused by penicillin-resistant organisms, penicillin VK is still the drug of choice.
Dosages for dental purposes: The typical adult dose is 250 milligrams to 500 milligrams every eight hours for seven to 10 days.
Concerns and possible side effects: When prescribed for a week or more, amoxicillin with clavulanic acid produces a higher incidence of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and yeast infections (in women) than penicillin VK. About 10 percent of patients develop a rash from the amoxicillin component. Occasionally, amoxicillin temporarily turns the tongue a black color, a condition known as black hairy tongue. Amoxicillin and other penicillins must not be taken by people with documented allergies to these drugs. Allergic reactions can range from a mild rash to life-threatening closure of the airway and a fall in blood pressure.
Aspirin
Aspirin
Common brand names: Bayer, Alka-Seltzer and many others.
Description: Aspirin was first marketed in 1899 and probably is the most consumed drug in the world next to alcohol. It relieves pain, reduces fever and lessens swelling and other symptoms of arthritis. Another major use of aspirin today (under the guidance of a physician) is in the prevention of heart attacks and certain types of strokes in at-risk people, due to its ability to inhibit functioning of platelets (blood-clotting cells).
Dental uses: Aspirin is used for mild to moderate dental pain, including pain from dental surgery, toothache or the temporomandibular joint. It often is used combined with narcotics.
Dosages for dental purposes: For mild to moderate dental pain, including pain from dental surgery, toothache, or the temporomandibular joint, the recommended adult dose is 650 milligrams to 1,000 milligrams every four to six hours, with a maximum daily dose of 4,000 milligrams. For more severe pain, a narcotic-combination drug (such as aspirin with codeine, hydrocodone or oxycodone) or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (such ibuprofen, naproxen sodium or diflunisal) may have to be prescribed. The maximum dose for aspirin also applies to aspirin plus codeine (Empirin #3) and aspirin plus oxycodone (Percodan) products.
Concerns and possible side effects: Common side effects with short-term (seven days or less) use include abdominal pain, nausea and increased bleeding time.
People who are on chronic low-dose aspirin therapy to prevent heart attacks and strokes should tell their dentist, because low-dose aspirin use can increase bleeding during dental surgery. Aspirin should not be directly placed on the oral soft tissues to treat dental pain; a severe burn (ulceration) is likely to result at the site. With chronic dosing (many weeks or months) as employed in the treatment of arthritis, more serious side effects can occur, often requiring hospitalization. These may include bleeding ulcers and perforations of the stomach and small intestines (occurring in 3 percent to 5 percent of patients) and kidney function impairment. Still, under the typical dental usage scenario of a few days at most, aspirin generally is a safe and well-tolerated drug.
People allergic to aspirin should avoid all aspirin-containing products; all related nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, diflunisal, etodolac and many others; and the new COX-2 inhibitors (celecoxib and rofecoxib). Allergic reactions can range from a mild rash to life-threatening closure of the airway and a fall in blood pressure. In addition, about 5 percent to 10 percent of people with asthma cannot tolerate aspirin, related NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors because they will precipitate potentially life-threatening asthmatic attacks in these individuals (so-called aspirin- or NSAID-sensitive asthmatics).
Patients with ulcers of the stomach or small intestine should not take aspirin.
Patients should avoid alcohol consumption during aspirin therapy for dental pain because alcohol increases the risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding. Other drugs aspirin may interact adversely with include the manic-depression drug lithium (Eskalith); warfarin (Coumadin) and other anticoagulants, which can cause bleeding; and oral drugs for diabetes (such as Diabinase and Orinase), which can lead to low blood sugar. These interactions can be serious, so it is imperative to inform your dentist of all medications you are taking.
Parents should not give aspirin to children with flulike symptoms, chicken pox, stomach infections and, in the opinion of most pediatricians, any respiratory infection accompanied by a fever due to aspirin’s strong association with the development of Reye’s syndrome, a potentially fatal disorder.
Ampicillin
Ampicillin
Common brand names: Omnipen, Polycillin.
Description: Ampicillin is a member of the penicillin class of antibiotics and is classified as extended-spectrum, meaning it can kill a wider range of bacteria than penicillin VK. However, in most dental infections this is not considered an advantage, and can actually lead to more side effects.
Dental Uses: Ampicillin is used to treat tooth and endodontic infections and abscesses (especially those extending into the sinuses and gums), gum infections, and periodontal disease. The drug usually preferred for all the above, however, is an improved form of ampicillin called amoxicillin, which is better absorbed.
Dosages for dental purposes: The typical adult dose is 250 milligrams to 500 milligrams every six hours for seven to 10 days.
Concerns and possible side effects: Ampicillin causes a higher incidence of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and yeast infections (in women) than penicillin VK. About 10 percent of individuals who ingest ampicillin develop a skin rash. Occasionally ampicillin causes ulcerations in the mouth. Ampicillin and other penicillins must not be used by people with documented allergies to these drugs. Allergic reactions can range from a mild rash to life-threatening closure of the airway and a fall in blood pressure.
Amoxicillin With Clavulanic Acid
Amoxicillin With Clavulanic Acid
Common brand name: Augmentin
Dental uses: Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid is used in dental infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to common penicillins (penicillin VK, ampicillin and amoxicillin). The clavulanic acid inhibits an enzyme produced by some bacteria that destroys penicillins.
Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid is used for complicated tooth and endodontic infections and abscesses, especially those extending into the sinuses, gums and bone. It frequently is used for gum infections against which other drugs have been shown to be ineffective.
It also is becoming a popular antibiotic prescribed in dental-implant cases when part of the implant is placed in the maxillary sinus. Many times a dentist will collect a sample of the infected area and send it to a medical laboratory for a culture and sensitivity test prior to prescribing Augmentin. For routine dental infections not caused by penicillin-resistant organisms, penicillin VK is still the drug of choice.
Dosages for dental purposes: The typical adult dose is 250 milligrams to 500 milligrams every eight hours for seven to 10 days.
Concerns and possible side effects: When prescribed for a week or more, amoxicillin with clavulanic acid produces a higher incidence of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and yeast infections (in women) than penicillin VK. About 10 percent of patients develop a rash from the amoxicillin component. Occasionally, amoxicillin temporarily turns the tongue a black color, a condition known as black hairy tongue. Amoxicillin and other penicillins must not be taken by people with documented allergies to these drugs. Allergic reactions can range from a mild rash to life-threatening closure of the airway and a fall in blood pressure.
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin
Common brand names: Amoxil, Trimox.
Description: Amoxicillin is a member of the penicillin class of antibiotics and is classified as extended-spectrum, meaning it can kill a wider range of bacteria than penicillin VK. It is better absorbed than ampicillin and has a longer effect than either penicillin VK or ampicillin.
Dental uses: Currently, amoxicillin is the drug of choice for patients at risk of developing endocarditis (a serious and potentially life-threatening infection of the heart) following certain dental procedures. Patients considered at risk include those with prosthetic (artificial) heart valves, those with mitral valve prolapse with valvular regurgitaion (heart murmurs with leaky valves) and those who have previously contracted endocarditis, in addition to people with some other cardiac conditions. Such procedures include dental extractions, periodontal surgery, professional cleanings, orthodontic band (not bracket) placement, and some other procedures.
Some people with prosthetic joints of the hip, knee or elbow also are given amoxicillin prior to dental procedures likely to cause bleeding.
Amoxicillin also is prescribed to patients with dental infections including abscesses, infections around wisdom teeth and infections that develop after surgery.
Dosages for dental purposes: The typical adult dose for dental infections is 250 mg to 500 mg every eight hours for seven to 10 days. Some pediatric dentists prefer amoxicillin to penicillin VK because amoxicillin only has to be given three times per day instead of four. Children are given a liquid form of amoxicillin in a dose based on body weight.
If you are at risk for endocarditis, your dentist will give you a single 2-gram dose (four 500-mg capsules) one hour before any dental procedure likely to induce mucosal or gingival bleeding.
Concerns and possible side effects: When prescribed for a week or more, amoxicillin produces a higher incidence of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and yeast infections (in women) than penicillin VK. About 10 percent of patients develop a rash from amoxicillin. Occasionally, amoxicillin temporarily turns the tongue a black color, a condition known as black hairy tongue. Amoxicillin and other penicillins must not be taken by people with documented allergies to these drugs. Allergic reactions can range from a mild rash to life-threatening closure of the airway and a fall in blood pressure.
Amitriptyline
Acetaminophen
Description: Like aspirin, acetaminophen possesses analgesic (pain-relieving) and antipyretic (fever-reducing) effects. However, it lacks anti-inflammatory effects (the ability to reduce joint swelling in arthritis patients and in some patients with temporomandibular joint pain). Acetaminophen does not irritate the stomach, cause ulcers or increase bleeding time. It is the pain reliever and fever reducer of choice in children, because its use is not associated with Reyes syndrome. It also can be safely used in patients with allergies to aspirin or to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and in most patients with aspirin or NSAID-sensitive asthma.