[Coincidence of uveitis, dental pulpitis and gingivitis]

The coincidence of uveitis, dental pulpitis and gingivitis is reported. The patients were 2 women, 21 and 50 years old, respectively, and a man aged 36. All were cured by systemic antibiotic treatment. As uveitis is often found in otherwise healthy patients with no apparent focus of infection, it has been suggested that such a focus might be of dental origin. In a tooth abscess the seat of infection in the bone tissue is subject to pressure and irritation from chewing. This can cause bacteria from infected root canals to be pumped into the blood stream and lymphatics. The causes we describe demonstrate the importance of systemic, wide-spectrum antibiotic treatment in such cases.