title: Dentocutaneous fistula.
abstract: Chronic dental infection is the most common cause of draining sinus tracts of the face and neck. These lesions can be a diagnostic challenge to the clinician who is not familiar with dentocutaneous fistula. Diagnostic errors can result in multiple excisions, biopsies, and ineffective long-term antibiotic therapy. Patients may require excision of the fistula once the dental abscess has been successfully treated by root-canal therapy or extraction. Nine patients are reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bowman-Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Marasco
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Argenta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003751:Dental Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000150:complications*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*