Oral Infection Management
What is an acute oral infection?
Acute dental infection typically occurs when bacteria invade the dental pulp (nerve) and spread to tissues surrounding the tooth. Dental infection is a common and potentially life threatening condition and in some areas, admissions for surgical treatment of dental infections are increasing. Patients presenting with signs of sepsis, facial swelling, trismus (limited mouth opening), or dysphagia should be reviewed immediately by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon without delay for appropriate surgical and medical management.
The oral cavity contains some of the most varied and vast flora in the entire human body and is the main entrance for two systems vital to human function and physiology, the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. Several diseases involve these two systems and manifest in the oral cavity.
What are common symptoms of an oral infection?
Immediately after your oral surgery, your jaw will likely feel numb for a couple of hours, so be sure to use caution when eating or drinking. Pain medication should help you to stay comfortable. You should also follow your oral surgeon’s instructions for oral care and may want to gargle with a warm saltwater solution in order to keep your mouth clean and avoid infection.
Infections after oral surgery are rare, and when they do occur, they most commonly pop up with people who have compromised immune systems.
Other symptoms may include:
- Throbbing jaw pain that isn’t going away with pain medication
- Increased swelling of the face, jaw, or gums
- Oozing discharge, especially pus
- A low-grade fever that persists or increases over time
how to Treat an acute or chronic oral infection:
In most cases, your oral and maxillofacial surgeon will prescribe an antibiotic to help rid the infection, but in some cases, surgical intervention may be required. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, please call our office immediately and speak with one of our staff members.