title: Odontogenic cervico-fascial infections: a continuing threat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dental abscesses are common and occasionally can progress to life-threatening cervico-fascial infections. Despite medical advances, odontogenic cervico-fascial infections (OCFIs) continue to be a threat. The potential seriousness of odontogenic infections (Ols), or dental abscesses, is frequently underestimated. General dental practitioners (GDPs) in primary care face the challenging decision of whether to refer patients to secondary care or to manage them in the community.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper reviews the relevant aspects of Ols that might be helpful to primary care dental practitioners in providing a better understanding of the anatomy and pathology and aims to assist in clinical decision.
  
  
  METHODS
  An up-to-date review of literature on OCFIs, highlighting their potential risks with clinical examples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental abscesses are common and continue to be a major cause for emergency hospital admission to oral and maxillofacial surgery departments. They occasionally spread to fascial spaces of the neck, potentially posing significant morbidity and mortality. GDPs are usually the first point of contact and face the challenge of recognising those at risk of developing OCFIs, which are potentially life threatening and require urgent referral for hospital treatment. We propose a patient care pathway to be used in primary care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton, NN1 5BD, UK.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cottom
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton, NN1 5BD, UK.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Daljit K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Dhariwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abu-Serriah
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications; D005208:Fasciitis / Q000209:etiology*; D005491:Focal Infection, Dental / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000209:etiology; D009333:Neck / Q000382:microbiology*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D034364:Streptococcus milleri Group / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000209:etiology; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult