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Odontogenic Infections

  • Chapter
Infections of the Head and Neck

Part of the book series: Clinical Topics in Infectious Disease ((CLIN.TOP.INFECT))

Abstract

Infections of the oral cavity are most commonly odontogenic in origin and include dentoalveolar, periodontal, and deep fascial space infections. Such infections are usually self-limiting, but on rare occasions may result in life-threatening complications such as mediastinal or intracranial extension, retropharyngeal spread with airway obstruction, pleuropulmonary suppuration, and hematogenous dissemination. Early recognition and aggressive surgical and antimicrobial therapy are essential. Recent advances in anaerobic culture techniques have greatly facilitated our understanding of the microbial specificity and pathogenetic mechanisms in dental caries and periodontitis. These advances should lead to more effective therapeutic and preventative approaches to these infections in the near future and further reduce the dreaded complications of odontogenic infections.

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David Schlossberg

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© 1987 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Chow, A.W. (1987). Odontogenic Infections. In: Schlossberg, D. (eds) Infections of the Head and Neck. Clinical Topics in Infectious Disease. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4640-4_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4640-4_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9095-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-4640-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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