Temporal abscess after tooth extractions.

DESCRIPTION A 34-year-old man with diabetes mellitus, but otherwise healthy and with no previous record of drug addiction, had two molars of the upper jaw removed. Three days later he developed a swelling and redness in his left temple and periorbital region. He was tender to palpation and not able to open his left eye (figure 1). His general condition was good with no fever, but C reactive protein was 301 when he was admitted to hospital 7 days after surgery. MRI scan showed an abscess located lateral to the alveolar crista of the upper jaw and upwards deep to the temporal fascia (figure 2). Eye functioning was unaffected and the MRI scan did not show any orbital involvement. The abscess was drained through a temporal incision, with excellent clinical and laboratory response. Microbiological samples showed Streptococcus milleri and Prevotella species, typical for an odontogenic abscess.