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The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of three agents – two antibiotics (amoxicillin and clindamycin) and an antiseptic (chlorhexidine) – to decontaminate bone grafts obtained by low-speed drilling. The study included 248 bone tissue samples harvested from 62 patients by low-speed drilling before dental implant placement. Each of four samples obtained from every patient was dropped, using a sterile instrument, into a sterile tube containing a 500-μl solution of 400 μg/mL amoxicillin, 150 μg/mL clindamycin, 0.12% chlorhexidine, or physiological saline for 1 min. The number of colony-forming units (CFU) was determined at 48 h of culture. The use of clindamycin, amoxicillin, or chlorhexidine as decontaminant for 1 min significantly reduced the CFU count when compared to physiological saline (control agent). In both anaerobic and CO 2 -rich atmospheres, significant differences in CFU/mL were found between the control and chlorhexidine groups (P < 0.001), control and amoxicillin groups (P < 0.001), control and clindamycin groups (P < 0.001), chlorhexidine and amoxicillin groups (P < 0.0001), and chlorhexidine and clindamycin groups (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, clindamycin had the highest decontaminating effect on bone particles obtained by low-speed drilling, followed by chlorhexidine and amoxicillin. Clindamycin may therefore be a valid alternative option for the routine decontamination of intraoral bone grafts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]