Dental and Oral Cavity Infections

Oral diseases, including caries and periodontal disease, affect nearly 3.5 billion people and have a major impact on health and health care systems. Estimated cases of oral disease have increased by 50% in the past 20 years, regardless of income. While most oral diseases are preventable, infectious complications, typically arising from oral flora, can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. This review initially summarizes the diagnosis and treatment of odontogenic infections, including gingivitis, periodontitis, mandibular infections including those caused by Actinomyces, and infections of the tongue and palate. While diagnosis and management have overall improved, questions remain to determine the necessity of antibiotics in certain odontogenic infections as well as the appropriate duration of therapy for certain pathogens. This review will also provide a broad overview of tongue and palate lesions, an overlooked site of infection that can cause significant morbidity for patients.