A guide to diagnosing and managing dental pain and infections

Dental pain, infections, and abscesses are common concerns in primary care settings. Prompt diagnosis and targeted management are essential to prevent severe complications such as sepsis, bone or soft tissue loss, and airway compromise. This article provides physician associates and other clinicians with practical, evidence-based strategies to identify and manage odontogenic infections, distinguish between infectious and noninfectious dental pain, and select appropriate antibiotic regimens, with special attention to antibiotic resistance trends. It also highlights circumstances under which collaboration with dental specialists becomes necessary and emphasizes patient education to prevent recurrence. By bridging knowledge gaps in dental health management, this article empowers clinicians to address these conditions confidently in outpatient settings, improving patient outcomes, reducing unnecessary ED visits, and lowering healthcare costs.