Failure to Administer Antibiotics After Tooth Extraction Leads to Infection

Based off of the case summary do you believe that the dentist may have acted below the standard level of care when he did not prescribe antibiotics immediately after the tooth removal even though he had an extensive history of poor dental hygiene?

The indications for antibiotic administration for third molar removal are impaction, pericoronitis, swelling, trismus, lymphadenopathy, and fever. If the patient had any of these, antibiotic administration was indicated. If the patient states any of these were present, then there may be a question of fact over the dentist's testimony. Poor oral hygiene and smoking do not in themselves justify antibiotic administration. Inappropriate referral is the likely breach of the standard of care here, with possibly failure to prescribe an antibiotic in the conditions described above.