Antibiotic Therapy in the Treatment of Odontogenic Infections-An Evolving Landscape

Odontogenic infections continue to be the most common reason for people to seek dental care. Antibiotic therapy, combined with appropriate surgical intervention has been the mainstay in treating dental infections for many years. Availability of new antimicrobial agents and reports of decreased efficacy in commonly used antibiotics warrant continued study to assure that the most effective agents are utilized. This paper presents a brief summary of the bacterial populations associated with odontogenic infection and their antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Information from a number of studies, including our own data, concerning antibiotic resistance and efficacy are presented. This paper may provide the practitioner with additional information as a guide for appropriate antibiotic use in odontogenic infections.