40
|
Volume1 Issue1
S
upporting
Y
our
P
ractice
Managing aPatient with an
Extensive
Odontogenic
Infection
Oasis Point ofCare
ExtensiveOdontogenic Infection
Patients will be lethargic, in severe pain,
have difficulty speaking or swallowing.
Trismus is presentmost of the time.
Presentation
Population
•
Patientswithpoor oral hygiene
•
Patientswhodonot receive regular dental care
•
Immunocompromisedpatients (e.g., diabetes, HIV/AIDS,
connective tissuedisease)
•
Patientswith restorations
Signs
•
Fever and lethargy
•
Trismus
•
Large swelling
•
Difficulty to speakand swallow
•
Inability tomanage secretions (acuteonset of drooling is a
worrisome sign)
•
Inability to reclinedue to shortnessof breath (worrisome sign)
•
Extensivecaries
•
Tooth fracture
•
Toothmobility
Symptoms
•
Moderate to severepain
•
Swelling, oftenassociatedwith surface redness
•
Limitedmouthopening
•
Fever andmalaise
•
Floor-of-the-mouthedemaanddecreased tonguemobility
•
Rapidandweakpulse
DaisyChemaly
DMD,M.Dent,
FRCD(C)
Dr.Chemaly is an
oral andmaxillofacial
surgeonwho
maintains a private
practice inToronto,
Ontario.
The author has no
declared financial
interests.
This article has been peer
reviewed.
