From Volume 43, Issue 8, October 2016 | Pages 745-752
The majority of serious dental infections can be prevented by early treatment of the local pathology. Patients with potentially life-threatening neck space infections arising from the oral cavity may, however, still present in dental practice. This paper outlines the pertinent surgical anatomy and pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, and key early-stage management of these severe infections.
Despite overall improvements in the oral health of the population,1 reports in the literature suggest an increase in the incidence of patients being managed for the complications of dental abscess by maxillofacial teams in the UK.2 An analysis of in-patient episodes for NHS Trusts in England showed a doubling in admissions and bed days required for the operative management of dental abscess in the period 1998–1999 and 2005–2006.2 The reasons for this are not entirely clear but it may, in part, reflect changes in the delivery of, and access to, dental services in the UK.3 There is also evidence that the incidence of dental abscess is related to socio-economic deprivation.4 These statistics reveal that, in many cases, dental infection is not being addressed at an early stage and, therefore, patients are presenting late with potentially serious sequelae.
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