Antibiotic treatment for sinusitis

The term “maxillary sinusitis” (lat. Sinusitis maxillaris) is used in dental terminology to describe the spread of inflammatory processes in the paranasal sinuses of the upper jaw. In addition to the acute form of sinusitis, the inflammatory processes can also take a chronic course.

Almost every form of sinusitis must be treated with an antibiotic. In most cases, this type of sinusitis occurs as a result of a long-lasting respiratory tract infection (especially in coughs and rhinitis). In the course of the long-lasting irritation of the nasal mucous membranes, the affected patients experience swelling of the mucous membranes and narrowing of the flow paths of nasal secretions. As a result, there is a risk that bacteria and other pathogens migrate directly from the nose into the paranasal sinuses, where they multiply and trigger inflammatory processes via their excretions. In addition, a general flow disturbance of the nasal secretion (of purely anatomical nature), due to narrowing of the flow paths, can be present and thus contribute to the development of sinusitis.

Antibiotic therapy

Apart from these typical causes, which can usually be treated by the administration of an antibiotic alone, the causes of sinusitis can also be of a different nature. In such cases, further therapeutic measures must be taken in addition to treatment with an antibiotic. Since the maxillary sinus is located in close proximity to the oral cavity and the long roots of the upper molars (lat.

molars) reach into the maxillary sinus in many patients, pathological processes in the area of the teeth can also be the cause of an inflammation of the maxillary sinus. Especially in the course of carious defects or an inflammation of the tip of the tooth root, pathogens, especially bacteria, can move directly from the oral cavity into the maxillary sinus, multiply there undisturbed and finally attack its sensitive tissue. The consequence is in most cases a unilaterally emphasized sinusitis, which can, however, also spread to both sides of the maxillary sinus.

In addition, there may be causes that lead to the development of sinusitis through dental treatment itself. In medical terminology, such cases are referred to as so-called iatrogenic causes. In this context, extractions (the pulling of a tooth) of molars of the upper jaw represent the major danger of an opening of the maxillary sinus.

This is also due to the sometimes enormous length of the roots of the upper jaw molars. If the opening of the maxillary sinus is not discovered by the treating dentist, an artificially created, direct connection between the oral cavity, which is heavily populated with bacteria, and the maxillary sinus persists. As a result, pathogens, especially bacteria, can migrate into the maxillary sinus, multiply unhindered and cause long-term damage to the tissue.

In order to prevent a strong reaction of the organism, the affected patient is usually treated with the administration of an antibiotic when the maxillary sinus is opened. In addition, the artificially created connection between mouth and maxillary sinus must be closed. In most cases, the dentist succeeds in doing this by covering it with the help of the patient’s own gum flaps.

In the case of extensive openings, an artificial covering material may have to be used. Both the taking of the antibiotic and the closure of the maxillary sinus are among the urgently necessary treatment measures in the course of a maxillary sinus opening. If one of these therapeutic measures is omitted, the inflammatory processes can also spread to the rest of the paranasal sinuses.

Patients suffering from sinusitis show different symptoms. In those forms that are due to a bacterial or viral infection, a rhinitis or at least a significant increase in the discharge of nasal secretion usually occurs. Infection-related sinusitis can be treated by taking an antibiotic for 5-7 days.

Most patients also describe a strong feeling of pressure in the area of the upper cheek and forehead. This symptomatology is due to the increased pressure within the maxillary sinus and usually decreases again shortly after the antibiotic has been administered. In most cases, a so-called broad-spectrum or broad-spectrum antibiotic, which is effective against a variety of bacterial pathogens, is prescribed to treat the sinusitis.Under no circumstances should the dose prescribed by the doctor be exceeded or undercut on your own authority, as otherwise it will not be able to develop its full effect.

In addition, it must be ensured that the duration of antibiotic intake is not shortened arbitrarily. The danger of the resistance formation (insensitivity development) of the bacterial strains can be increased otherwise. During treatment with the antibiotic, the patient may experience side effects such as diarrhoea and/or vomiting. In case of concerns about such undesirable drug effects, the dentist in charge of the treatment must be consulted urgently.