Brain Abscess Due to Arcanobacterium haemolyticum after Dental Extraction To the Editor—It has been suggested that 5%–20% of brain abscesses are presumably associated with oral infections or dental procedures [1–4], in which organisms belonging to the oropharyngeal flora, such as Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, are involved [5, 6]. This organism has been documented in cases of pharyngitis and wou...

Deep neck space infections include, infections involving para-pharyngeal, retropharyngeal and submandibular spaces. Intrinsic or deep neck space infections usually represent the overgrowth of the normal flora with most infections being polymicrobial. The infections are of dental origin in a majority of the cases. The purpose of this study was to determine the various presentation, diagnosis and...

T he infratemporal fossa (ITF) is a rare anatomic site for abscess formation. Infections in this space have been found following maxillary sinusitis, maxillary sinus fracture, temporomandibular arthroscopy, dental infection, and tooth extraction. The ITF is bounded superiorly by the sphenoid bone, medially by the lateral pterygoid plate, anteriorly by the maxilla, posteriorly by the deep paroti...

Trismus is the inability to normally open the mouth. Inflammation of soft tissue around impacted third molar tooth is the most common cause of trismus. Other causes include tetanus, inflammation of muscles of mastication, peritonsillar abscess, temporomandibular joint disorders, as a temporary side effect of many stimulants of the sympathetic nervous system and some recreational drugs. Trismus ...

Abscess formation in the infratemporal and temporal fossae is rare. Their presentation to accident and emergency departments is unusual and consequently may cause problems with diagnosis. Once diagnosed, treatment should be aggressive with intravenous antibiotics and surgical drainage.

River otters (Lontra canadensis) consume a variety of foods, including mussels, fishes, and crayfishes. These foods have hard body parts that cause wear the teeth as predator ages incurs more damaging feeding experiences. This can lead to exposure pulp cavity possible abscess resorption bone around alveolus. Further, strong bites against harder prey sometimes results in mechanical breakage, whi...

Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics by health care professionals is a worldwide concern. This study evaluated the knowledge and practices of dental practitioners in the city of Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran regarding their therapeutic use of antibiotics for patients with dentoalveolar infections. Of 219 (48.6%) dentists responding to the questionnaire more than 40% would prescribe antib...

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is an adverse drug reaction described as the progressive destruction and death of bone tissue of the mandible or maxilla, in the course of bisphosphonate therapy. Orally administered bisphosphonates, widely used for the treatment of osteoporosis, are rarely associated with BRONJ. Instead, the risk greatly increases whether the patient is c...