Odontogenic infections: An 8-year epidemiologic analysis in a dental emergency outpatient care unit

Abstract

Objectives. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze epidemiological patterns, clinical features and the management of odontogenic infections in patients undergoing treatment in a dental emergency outpatient care unit. Study design. A retrospective analysis of 58 161 case records of patients presenting to an emergency outpatient unit in Hamburg, Germany between 2000–2007 was performed. From this pool, patients with odontogenic infections were identified using an ICD-10 code, analyzing age, gender, medical co-morbidities, duration of pain, ratio of infiltrates/abscesses, affected teeth, management of infection and administered antibiotics. Results. Of the 58 161 patients, 5357 (9.2%) were identified as having odontogenic infections, with 2689 (50.2%) inflammatory infiltrates and 2668 (49.8%) abscesses. Mean age was 34.8 ± 16.8 years. As the primary site of odontogenic infection, the most significantly affected teeth were the maxillary and mandibular first molars. Patients in age-group 20–29 years (25.1%) utilized the emergency care unit more frequently than other age groups. Clindamycin was the most frequently administered antibiotic. Conclusions. Early recognition, diagnosis and management of odontogenic infections are requisite for avoiding or minimizing the development of potential complications. Strategies and evidence-based protocols should be developed within the dental ambulatory care sector, advancing interdisciplinary cooperation between general dentists and oral or maxillofacial surgeons.

Key Words::

• risk factors
• complications
• antibiotics
• management of infection

Acknowledgments

We thank Thomas Spitzer, Sheffield, UK, and Bernard Tandler, Department of Oral Biology and Medicine, School of Dentistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA, for editorial assistance, and Michael Supplieth, Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, for additional data management advice.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.