title: Is gingival infection likely to act as a focus? The epithelial barrier.
abstract: Of the infectious lesions in and around the mouth, gingival infection in more advanced stages of periodontal disease seems to be the most likely candidate for acting as a focus of infection. However, there is little evidence to indicate that more than a transient bacteremia may occur from this source in cases of local injury, because of the nature of the epithelial barrier. Established oral foci should, nevertheless, be treated irrespective of their relation to extraoral or systemic damage, and in an effort to protect from bacteremia, precautionary measures should be taken prior to manipulations in this area.
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications*; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D005491:Focal Infection, Dental / Q000150:complications*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology