British dental journal
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Wound infections after tooth extraction may occur in up to 5%. A systemic infection is a rare but threatening complication often caused by an underlying immune deficiency (immunosuppression, diabetes, HIV) which requires prompt adequate care. This case report describes bacterial meningitis as a possible systemic complication two days after the extraction of a molar in a patient with previously undiagnosed latent diabetes mellitus.
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British dental journal · Jan 2009
Cervicofacial infection of dental origin presenting to maxillofacial surgery units in the United Kingdom: a national audit.
Local studies have shown an increase in cervicofacial infections of dental origin presenting to oral and maxillofacial surgery units in the UK. A lack of access to National Health Service (NHS) primary care dental services has been implicated as a root cause. ⋯ This audit provides a benchmark from which future comparisons can be made and by design cannot prove an increase in the presentation of cervicofacial infection of dental origin. Lack of access to NHS primary care dental services may be less significant than originally thought. A significant proportion of patients preferentially present to primary care medical services rather than dental services. Two thirds of patients treated by primary care dental services received oral antibiotics only which represents an inadequate level of treatment for odontogenic infection.
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This article by Noel Perkins and Lan Jones describes the ongoing work of the charity Dental Mission for Children, which provides dental care and dental health education in socioeconomically deprived areas of Vietnam.