This work provides a narrative review covering evidence-based recommendations for
pericoronitis management (Part A) and a systematic review of
antibiotic prescribing for
pericoronitis from January 2000 to May 2021 (Part B). Part A presents the most recent, clinically significant, and evidence-based guidance for
pericoronitis diagnosis and proper treatment recommending the local
therapy over
antibiotic prescribing, which should be reserved for severe conditions. The systematic review includes publications analyzing sets of patients treated for
pericoronitis and questionnaires that identified dentists' therapeutic approaches to
pericoronitis. Questionnaires among dentists revealed that almost 75% of them prescribed
antibiotics for
pericoronitis, and
pericoronitis was among the top 4 in the frequency of
antibiotic use within the surveyed diagnoses and situations. Studies involving patients showed that
antibiotics were prescribed to more than half of the patients with
pericoronitis, and
pericoronitis was among the top 2 in the frequency of
antibiotic use within the monitored diagnoses and situations. The most prescribed
antibiotics for
pericoronitis were
amoxicillin and
metronidazole. The systematic review results show abundant and unnecessary use of
antibiotics for
pericoronitis and are in strong contrast to evidence-based recommendations summarized in the narrative review. Adherence of dental professionals to the recommendations presented in this work can help rapidly reduce the duration of
pericoronitis, prevent its complications, and reduce the use of
antibiotics and thus reduce its impact on patients' quality of life, healthcare costs, and antimicrobial resistance development.