Introduction: There are dissenting opinions regarding the efficacy of prophylactic antimicrobial agents in third molar surgery. Objective: To determine: 1) The efficacy of a prophylactic antibiotic regimen compared with a chlorhexidine mouthwash in reducing postoperative infections in mandibular third molar surgery. 2) The pattern of presentation and the indications for extraction of mandibular third molars. Design: 100 surgical patients were randomly assigned to two groups (group 1: 15 ml of chlorhexidine rinse for one minute preoperatively. group 2: 2g amoxicillin orally one hour preoperatively). Methods: Postoperative complications and surgical site infections were assessed seven days postoperatively. The patients' age, gender, type of impaction and indications for extraction were also recorded. Data was analyzed using the statistical package STATA 13.1. results: The infection rate was 8% and 6% for groups 1 and 2 respectively. No statistically significant difference in surgical wound infection was found between the two groups. Mesioangular impaction was the most common type of impaction, and pericoronitis was the most prevalent indication for extraction. conclusion: Amoxicillin and chlorhexidine prophylaxis are equally effective in reducing postoperative infections in third molar surgery. Hence, antibiotic prophylaxis is not indicated for routine administration in non-immunocompromised patients for such procedures.