Abstract
Odontogenic infections (OI) are a major reason for consultation in dental practice. They affect people of all ages, and most of them respond well to current medical and surgical treatments. However, some OI can spread to vital and deep structures, overcome the host immune system - especially in diabetic, immunocompromised or weakened patients - and even prove fatal. Ludwig’s angina is a severe form of diffuse cellulitis that can have an acute onset and spread very rapidly, bilaterally affecting areas of the head and neck, and may prove life threatening. A case of severe dental infection is presented in which emphasis is placed on the importance of airway maintenance, followed by surgical decompression under adequate antibiotic coverage. Key words:Ludwig’s angina, severe odontogenic infection, surgical decompression, dental infection.
Highlights
Odontogenic infections (OI) are quite frequent, and usually can be resolved by local medical-surgical means - though in some cases they may become complicated and result in important morbidity-mortality (1)
We describe a case of severe odontogenic infection, and establish correlations between the disease and systemic risk factors such as diabetes mellitus and possible resistance to empirical antibiotic treatment
Odontogenic infections are the most frequent presentations, 70-90% originating from pulp necrosis, periodontal disease, pericoronitis, granulomas, apical cysts or complications of dental procedures
Summary
Marcelo Guzmán-Letelier 1, Claudia Crisosto-Jara 2, Camilo Diaz-Ricouz 3, Miguel Peñarrocha-Diago 4, David Peñarrocha-Oltra 5. Guzmán-Letelier M, Crisosto-Jara C, Diaz-Ricouz C, Peñarrocha-Diago M, Peñarrocha-Oltra D.
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