A clinical study was carried out to compare the efficacy of a short course, high dose amoxycillin versus a conventional penicillin regimen in the treatment of acute abscessed primary teeth. In a blind way children were assigned to either group A (amoxycillin) or group B (penicillin). The efficacy of the antibiotics was assessed using the clinical parameters of pain, swelling, tenderness, mobility and lymphadenitis. The results showed a general trend of less swelling in patients in group A as compared with patients in group B. This was significant at days 1 and 7 for the operators assessment (Mann Whitney U test; z = 2.48 and z = 2.12). More teeth in group A were considered suitable for first stage pulpectomy by day 7 (c2 test; P 0.037 pounds). A short course, high dose amoxycillin regimen proved as efficacious as a conventional penicillin regimen.