Table 3.

Study characteristics

First author and year/Setting	Design; type of infection; length of study	Intervention group sample size; type and dose of antibiotic used and duration of treatment	Control group sample size; type and dose of antibiotic used and duration of treatment	Clinical outcomes
Hood 197813 Dental school UK	RCT; acute dental infection including acute pericoronitis and acute apical infection; 3 days—patients seen daily	N = 18 (5 acute pericoronitis and 12 apical infections); metronidazole 200 mg 8 hourly for 3 days	N = 19 (7 acute pericoronitis and 12 apical infection); penicillin G 600 mg IM immediately + penicillin V 250 mg four times/day for 5 days	A marked clinical improvement was apparent within 24–48 h of commencing treatment in both groups. Metronidazole appeared to be as effective as penicillin
McGowan 197715 Dental hospital UK	RCT; acute pericoronitis; 7 days with review on Day 1 or 2 to exclude need for more intensive therapy	N = 13; metronidazole 200 mg four times/day for 5 days + 500 mg paracetamol as required	N = 18; phenoxymethylpenicillin 250 mg four times/day for 5 days + 500 mg paracetamol as required	All patients reported improvement in symptoms at final visit. n = 6 in metronidazole and n = 8 in penicillin group reported no pain. Reduction in clinical signs was noted. n = 3 patients on metronidazole and n = 3 on penicillin reported side effects e.g. nausea, constipation and tiredness. No significant between group differences in any measures including amount of analgesia taken
Meiss 198216 Faculty of dentistry Argentina	RCT; acute pericoronitis; 3 days. Review at 24, 48 and 72 h after first visit	N = 20; metronidazole 250 mg 8 hourly for 4 days + 500 mg aspirin as required	N = 20; amoxicillin 500 mg 8 hourly for 4 days + aspirin	All pain had resolved in the amoxicillin and metronidazole groups at 72 h. In the erythromycin and doxycycline groups pain persisted at 72 h. Facial swelling was statistically significantly improved in metronidazole and amoxicillin treatment groups compared with erythromycin and doxycycline groups. At 72 h 55% of patients who received amoxicillin and 60% on metronidazole no longer had swelling or flushing in the soft tissues neighbouring the lesion. In the erythromycin and doxycycline groups only 10% no longer had swelling or flushing in the soft tissues. Limitation of mandibular opening was resolved at 72 h in the amoxicillin and metronidazole group and persisted in 15% and 18%, respectively, in the erythromycin and doxycycline groups
			N = 20; erythromycin 500 mg 8 hourly for 4 days + aspirin
			N = 20; doxycycline 50 mg 8 hourly for 4 days + aspirin