Why Should Dentists Care About Sepsis (sepsis Part 3)

Question 1

What are key points of dental abscesses?

Answer 1

1. Develop during immune response to acute bacterial infection of pulp space
2. Contain immune cells, dead tissue and live bacteria
3. Highly infectious

Question 2

What are treatment options for dental abscesses?

Answer 2

1. treated promptly by excision and drainage
2. Periapical abscesses require root canal or extraction

Note: antibiotics are ineffective (in the absence of spreading dental infection)

Question 3

What are the “red flag” signs and symptoms of spreading dental infection?

Answer 3

1. Temperature < 36 or > 38
2. Elevated breathing rate (> 20 breaths/min)
3. Elevated or reduced heart rate
4. Varying degrees of facial swelling
5. Trismos
6. Dehydration

Question 4

What should you do if patient presents with any red flag signs and symptoms?

Answer 4

Refer to oral or maxillofacial surgeon in a hospital setting without delay

Note: qSOFA criteria associated with signs of infection = medical emergency