Diagnosis and antibiotic treatment of alveolar infections in dentistry

A scheme for differential diagnosis of dental alveolar infections has been presented. It depends on relating clinical symptoms with bacteria causing these infections and then coupling this information with established antibiotic sensitivity patterns of these bacteria. Approaching this problem by first assessing the likely pathogen then relating it to its antibiotic sensitivity would seem to be a sound therapeutic principle. This is because antibiotic sensitivity patterns change from time to time; there are also regional and geographic differences. By first establishing whether or not the infection is streptococcal, the predominant cause of alveolar infections, the opportunity for correct use of the penicillin, in particular amoxycillin, can be introduced. It is fortunate that erythromycin has such a wide application to the pathogens of alveolar infections as where there is doubt regarding diagnosis it can in most cases be utilized effectively. It should be recognized by all practitioners treating acute infections that antibiotics can be of great benefit. They augment, but they cannot replace, sound treatment of infection using established therapeutic principles.