TOOTH INFECTION: COMPLICATIONS AND PREVENTION

Complications of dental infections

Even a simple caries must not be ignored: in fact, even if it is a superficial dental infection, the slow but inexorable continuation of the destructive process sustained by the bacteria can slowly cause devastating damage in the long term.
The most common diseases that can arise as a complication of dental infections are described below:

ABSCESSES: the dental abscess can be a consequence of dental infections such as complicated caries, pulpits, cysts or granulomas not adequately treated. The abscess appears as a painful and purulent (pus-filled) swelling, accompanied by symptoms such as toothache, swollen gums, bad breath, dentinal hypersensitivity, fever and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. dental infection could spread to adjacent tissues and blood, giving rise to a real widespread infectious explosion (septicemia).

BACTERIAL CELLULITIS: gum infections caused by severely chipped teeth, as well as bacterial insults at the periapical or wisdom teeth level, can cause bacterial dental cellulitis. These are dangerous inflammations that can affect the tongue, cheeks and throat: bacterial cellulite of the oral cavity can cause toothache, redness, swelling, edema and fever. Septicemia and edema of the glottis with the danger of suffocation are the most fearful complications of oral bacterial cellulitis.

FISTULAS: it is an unnatural passage that connects the center of dental inflammation with an adjacent tissue (eg mucosa, skin or alveolus). Dental fistulas can be a consequence of complicated caries, pulpits, gangrene, alveolar abscesses and root cysts Impacted teeth, especially if they have suffered infections, can give rise to serious complications, including fistula. Fistulas heal with the removal of the triggering cause.

PHLEBITIS: a rather rare but possible eventuality, inflammation of the facial and ophthalmic veins (of the eye) is a serious complication of extensive dental infections or other facial infections. Phlebitis can degenerate into abscess or septicemia; therefore, treatment doctor is essential.

LYMPHADENITIS: the infection of the lymph nodes of the neck is sometimes subordinated to a dental infection, such as especially dental granuloma, dental abscess and, more rarely, gingivitis. Often, infections affecting the teeth can also degenerate into lymphangitis, or an "inflammation of the lymphatic vessels.

OSTEOMYELITIS: at the dental level, osteomyelitis is a complication of periapical infections or bacterial insults secondary to tooth extractions, broken teeth, infected wounds or dental cysts. The aforementioned bone infection causes toothache, fever, edema, lymphadenitis. , swelling and flaky teeth. If not taken promptly, dental osteomyelitis can develop into abscesses and fistulas.

PERIOSTITIS: it is an "inflammation of the periosteum, generally due to traumas that damage it directly (eg. Particularly complicated or badly done tooth extraction) or periapical dental infections (eg. Caries, pulpits, gangrene). Periostitis occurs as a swelling: the periosteum is thickened and reddened, with evident formation of collateral edema of the face. Infection of the periosteum can present itself in an acute, chronic or purulent form.

MAXILLARY SINUSITIS: sinusitis is not only an "inflammation of the nasal sinuses due to rhinorrhea or other insults affecting the respiratory tract. In some cases, sinusitis can be of dental origin: infections at the apical level - such as dental cysts and abscesses - are in fact closely linked to maxillary type sinusitis, a typical disorder of premolar and molar teeth. Maxillary sinusitis can also be caused by a "bad tooth extraction" or by the presence of an infected tooth root pushed into the dental sinus. Although quite rarely, maxillary sinusitis can result from other dental infections (eg pyorrhea).

Prevention of tooth infections

An "adequate daily oral hygiene is the number one rule to prevent dental infections. The regular and combined use of toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and mouthwash protects the teeth from attack by bacteria, while making them healthy, strong and resistant to infections. Let us briefly recall that an "insufficient removal of food residues and plaque from the teeth greatly predisposes to the risk of" dental infections of all kinds, ranging from the simplest caries to the most complex abscess.
To further protect your teeth from bacterial insults, scaling is highly recommended every 6-12 months. Professional dental cleaning is extremely useful for removing stubborn calculus and plaque concretions from teeth, which cannot be removed by simply cleaning with a manual or electric toothbrush.
Another very important prophylactic strategy to reduce the risk of dental infections already during childhood is the sealing of the teeth: it is a dental procedure to be performed as soon as the milk teeth give way to permanent ones. teeth involves the application of a special fluid resin (sealant) on the chewing surface of healthy teeth (in particular, on the molars). This special, simple and totally painless dental practice offers complete protection from the development of dental infections in the teeth where it was performed.