Dental infections Flashcards
Common features of dentoalveolar abscess
-Severe pain
-Tenderness on percussion
Pain in Dentoalveolar abscess caused by
Inflammatory mediators-> Kinins and Histamines
Increased pressure-> Fluid exudates
Pain can be relieved by
Evacuation of pus
Extraction of tooth
Removal of infected pulp
Spread of infection governed by
-Virulence of microorganisms
-Position of tooth in alveolus (relation of apices of muscle/proximity to lingual and buccal surfaces)
Lack of treatment of Dentoalveolar abscess leads to
Chronic Dentoalveolar abscess-> Granuloma
The granuloma has potential to
Stimulate epithelial cells-> cyst formation
Acute phase radiographically
Loss of lamina dura
Ill defined margins
Chronic abscesses/apical granuloma radiographically
Well circumscribed radiolucency
Barriers against the spread of infection
-Bone
-Muscle
-Fascia
-Neurovascular bundles
-Skin
Most common routes of spread of infection
- upper lip
- canine fossa
- infraorbital region
- buccal space
- palate
- submasseteric
- retropharyngeal;
- lateral pharyngeal
- pterygomandibular space
- infratemporal fossa
- parotid space
- buccinator space
- suprahyoid region
– submandibular space
– submental space
– sublingual space
Infection of upper lip originates from
upper anterior teeth
spreads on to the orbicularis muscle from the labial sulcus between the levator labii superioris muscle and the levator angularis oris muscle.
Infection of upper lip
Infection to canine fossa originates from
Maxillary canine or upper premolar teeth
Infection of this space can cause circumorbital infection
Canine fossa
Muscle that controls spread of infection in buccal space
Bucinator