Elsevier

Dental Abstracts

Volume 59, Issue 6, November–December 2014, Pages 301-303
Dental Abstracts

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Acute oral infection

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.denabs.2014.08.030Get rights and content

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Background

Oral infections are mostly chronic in nature and rarely have acute or dramatic consequences. Medically compromised persons, however, may be at risk for acute or chronic oral conditions, especially if they have a weakened immune system. Even in immunocompetent persons, the translocation of oral bacteria to nonoral sites may produce infectious processes. Thus oral cavity bacteria causing acute oral disease may also cause systemic diseases. The most common acute oral infections, the dissemination

Oral Infections

Acute oral infections have a rapid onset, produce severe symptoms, and last for a short period compared to chronic oral infections. Among the more common acute oral infections are pulpitis, apical periodontitis, pericoronitis, phlegmon and abscess formation, necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, and periodontitis.

Bacterial Dissemination and Its Consequences

Bacteremia results when microorganisms in the mouth are disseminated through breaches into the bloodstream. Even healthy people can suffer ulcers of the gingival crevicular epithelium, and patients with mucositis are especially prone to bacterial dissemination through oral ulcers. Tooth brushing can cause bacteremia that can be serious in persons at risk for infective endocarditis. The type of dental treatment may also alter the risk of bacteremia, as can the magnitude of the trauma suffered,

Management of Oral Infections

Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important because some acute soft tissue infections can be lethal. If the infection has spread to nearby areas, surgical treatment under general anesthesia and intravenous antibiotics may be needed. Incision is appropriate for draining abscesses, with antibiotics given if the patient’s general health has been affected and for immunocompromised patients. Levels of C-reactive protein correlate closely with the severity and resolution of acute dental infections,

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Olsen I, van Winkelhoff AJ: Acute focal infections of dental origin. Periodontology 65:178-189, 2014

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