A review of odontogenic infections

Odontogenic infections continue to affect a substantial portion of the population. These infections may be due to pulpal or periodontal involvement, and may occur after extraction of a tooth. Usually self-limiting and spatially confined, infection occasionally spreads due to a highly virulent organism leading to serious or potentially lethal conditions. Treatment priorities include establishing an airway if the airway is compromised, obtaining specimen for appropriate aerobic and anaerobic sensitivity, employing antibiotics empirically, and draining infection surgically. A discussion of the pathophysiology of odontogenic infection follows, along with a review of the anatomy basic to treatment of infection which may extend to the deep neck spaces.