Antibiotic Prophylaxis After Simple Tooth Extraction in Immunosuppressed Patients With Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Simple tooth extractions are common procedures, and postoperative infection rates are low in the general population. Current guidelines discourage prophylactic antibiotic use to reduce microbial resistance, adverse reactions, and microbiome disruption. However, patients with ARDs often receive prophylaxis due to theoretical risks of delayed healing and increased susceptibility to infection. Evidence in other immuno-compromised populations suggests that simple extractions may be safe without antibiotics, but no prospective trials have evaluated this issue specifically in ARD patients. This study is the first prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to determine whether antibiotic prophylaxis is necessary in this population.