title: Odontogenic infections: an 8-year epidemiologic analysis in a dental emergency outpatient care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this investigation was to analyze epidemiological patterns, clinical features and the management of odontogenic infections in patients undergoing treatment in a dental emergency outpatient care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 58 161 case records of patients presenting to an emergency outpatient unit in Hamburg, Germany between 2000-2007 was performed. From this pool, patients with odontogenic infections were identified using an ICD-10 code, analyzing age, gender, medical co-morbidities, duration of pain, ratio of infiltrates/abscesses, affected teeth, management of infection and administered antibiotics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 58 161 patients, 5357 (9.2%) were identified as having odontogenic infections, with 2689 (50.2%) inflammatory infiltrates and 2668 (49.8%) abscesses. Mean age was 34.8 ± 16.8 years. As the primary site of odontogenic infection, the most significantly affected teeth were the maxillary and mandibular first molars. Patients in age-group 20-29 years (25.1%) utilized the emergency care unit more frequently than other age groups. Clindamycin was the most frequently administered antibiotic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early recognition, diagnosis and management of odontogenic infections are requisite for avoiding or minimizing the development of potential complications. Strategies and evidence-based protocols should be developed within the dental ambulatory care sector, advancing interdisciplinary cooperation between general dentists and oral or maxillofacial surgeons.
authors: Center for Oral and Dental Medicine, Department of Restorative and Preventive Dentistry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Cachovan
authors: Jin-Ho
authors: JH
authors: Phark
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Schön
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Pohlenz
authors: Ursula
authors: U
authors: Platzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005491:Focal Infection, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult