Odontogenic signs and symptoms as predictors of odontogenic infection: a clinical trial.

Background: The authors conducted a study to determine if odontogenic signs and symptoms in the emergency department predicted the development of overt odontogenic infection at a follow-up dental visit.

Methods: One hundred ninety-five patients with odontalgia, but without overt signs of infection, were enrolled in a prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Data included dental diagnosis, pain characteristics, presence of caries and restorations, presence and size of periapical radiolucencies and other diagnostic test results.

Efficacy of penicillin for dental pain without overt infection.

Objectives: Dental pain is a common presenting symptom in the acute care setting. Even in the absence of overt infection, many physicians routinely prescribe antibiotics such as penicillin. The authors sought to test the hypothesis that penicillin is not necessary or beneficial in the treatment of undifferentiated dental pain without overt infection.