Antibiotics in Endodontics

Antibiotics are considered to be magic bullets/magical drugs as they target the organisms producing disease. Unfortunately they may not be effective in near future due to antibiotic resistance leading to life threatening infections. So they should be used judiciously where indicated like in cases of spreading and persistent infection and for prophylaxis in conditions indicated by American Association of Endodontists. ß - lactam antibiotics are the drug of choice in treating endodontic infections. Antibiotics should be used in high dosage for as a short period of time as the clinical situation permits as shorter the duration lower the risk of developing antibiotic induced toxicity and antibiotic resistance. To overcome antibiotic resistance liposomes have been developed which act as toxin-decoy. The toxin comes in to contact with liposome binds and becomes useless. If needed they could be used in antibiotics in very severe life threatening infections to overcome antibiotic resistance.