Infections of the Oral Cavity BT - Oral Diseases: Textbook and Atlas

Abstract

Infections of the oral cavity are most commonly odontogenic in origin and include dental caries, periapical infections, gingivitis, periodontal infec-tions and abscesses, and deep fascial space infec-tions. Although rare, life-threatening complications, such as mediastinal or intracranial extension, retro-pharyngeal spread and airway obstruction, pleuropulmonary suppuration, and hematogenous disse-mination to heart valves, prosthetic devices, and other metastatic foci are known, which indicate the potentially serious nature of these infections.