[A lung abscess caused by bad teeth]

An odontogenic cause of a lung abscess is often overlooked. A 61-year-old man presented at an emergency department with a productive cough and dyspnoea. He was admitted to the pulmonary ward with a suspected odontogenic lung abscess. A thorax CT scan confirmed the diagnosis 'lung abscess', following which an oral-maxillofacial surgeon confirmed that the lung abscess probably had an odontogenic cause. The patient made a full recovery following a 6-week course of antibiotics, and his teeth were remediated by means of full extraction and the fabrication of immediate dentures. Poor oral hygiene can be a cause of a lung abscess. A patient with a lung abscess can be treated successfully with antibiotics. If, however, the odontogenic cause is not recognised the abscess can recur.