• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 2007

Oral and maxillofacial infection is the oldest and most common disease in human history. The infection ranges from the low-grade infection that only requires minimal treatment to the high-grade and life-threatening fascial space infection. In this study, the data on oral and maxillofacial infections were analyzed to aid in the diagnosis and treatment, and to predict the prognosis. This report was based on data from 831 patients with oral and maxillofacial infection (394 males and 437 females) who were hospitalized in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery of Chosun University Dental Hospital from January 1998 to May 2005. The ratio of males to females was 0.9:1. By age, patients between 60 and 70 years old were the greatest in number (17.1%), while only 5.9% of the patients were between 10 and 20 years old. The most common cause of infection was odontogenic origin (84.4%), followed by post-extraction infection (6.2%), unknown (5.9%), and trauma (3.5%). The most common fascial space involved was the buccal space (39.4%), followed by the canine (20.6%), submandibular (15.9%), pterygomandibular (9.5%), submental (7.6%) and sublingual (2.8%) space. The number of the involved fascial space was one (75.2%), two (19.8%), or more than three (5.0%). In terms of the treatment duration, the hospitalization period of 6 to 10 days was the greatest in number (49.9%). All patients had uneventful recovery without major complication. There are statistically significant correlations between age and treatment period, and the involved space and treatment period, but no correlations between the variables of sex and treatment.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.75-83
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• 2021

Odontogenic infection in the oral and maxillofacial regions caused by bacteria (mostly of oral origin) is one of the most common diseases encountered by dentists. Localized infection can easily be treated with incision and drainage followed by antibiotics. Emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria called "Superbacteria" has become one of the serious problems in modern society, due to its small window of opportunity for treatment and high casualty. The acronym "ESKAPE", encompassing the common and serious MDR pathogens stand for Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp. Literature search was performed in Medline, PubMed and Google Scholar ranging from 2012 to 2020. ESKAPE patient's infection period was longer than that of non-ESKAPE group, and the treatment method due to antibiotic resistance was also complicated. The purpose of this study is to investigate infection caused by ESKAPE pathogens in the oral and maxillofacial regions through literature review and to inform dental surgeons of the danger of ESKAPE pathogens and to suggest viable treatment options. Many studies worldwide reported infections associated with ESKAPE pathogens, but only limited number of studies targeted infection in oral and maxillofacial regions. Further research is required with more data on ESKAPE bacteria and their infection, especially in oral and maxillofacial regions.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2014

Keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) is a benign cystic intraosseous tumor of odontogenic origin. An infection of a KCOT is not common because KCOT is a benign developmental neoplasm. Moreover, a severe deep neck space infection with compromised airway caused by infected KCOT is rare. This report presents a 60-year-old male patient with a severe deep neck space infection related to an infected KCOT due to cortical bone perforation and rupture of the exudate. Treatment of the deep neck space infection and KCOT are reported.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.147-151
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• 2014

In this report, we describe a case of brain abscess due to odontogenic infection. A 53-year-old female who had been suffering from headache and trismus for two weeks visited the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Sun Dental Hospital (Daejeon, Korea). Even after several routine tests, we still could not make a diagnosis. However, after the combined multidisciplinary efforts of oral surgeons and neurosurgeons, the patient was treated for odontogenic infection and made an uneventful recovery. Therefore, patients with infections in the head and neck region showing symptoms such as headache, changes in mental state, nausea, vomiting, seizures, hemiplegia, speech disturbance, and visual disturbance, a brain abscess should be included in the list of differential diagnoses.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.115-119
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• 2020

Infectious myositis, an infection of the skeletal muscles, is a rare condition and potentially life-threatening if not detected and treated in the early stages. This clinical entity may arise from various pathogens, such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. A propagation of contiguous infection, penetrating trauma, vascular insufficiency, or hematogenous spreading of microorganisms can cause infectious myositis. Though several cases have been reported in large muscle groups in the lower extremities, there are only a few reports on infectious myositis of the masticatory muscles. We report three cases of infectious myositis presenting jaw pain and trismus. Unlike a common head and neck infection caused by the spreading of odontogenic origin, the early diagnosis of infectious myositis was difficult because no specific lesion suspected to be the infection source was observed in the physical examination and the plain radiographs. Advanced imaging modalities such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and laboratory evaluation is useful for the early detection of infectious myositis.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.365-373
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• 2023

Purpose: In the context of COVID-19, studies evaluating the adherence of dentists and dental students to infection control are relevant due to their high occupational exposure and risk, as well as their responsibility for disseminating information and good practices. This study evaluated the adherence of dentists and dental students to infection control in the oral radiology field in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic on different continents. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study involved individuals who performed intraoral radiographic examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Questionnaire on Infection Control in Oral Radiology was administered virtually using a Google Form. Participants from different continents(the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Oceania) were recruited. Data were subjected to descriptive analysis and simple and multiple binary regression (5%). Results: There were 582 valid answers, and 68.73% of the participants were from the Americas, 18.90% from Europe, and 12.37% from Asia. The median score for infection control protocols was 94 points for dental students and 104 points for dentists, and participants below the median were considered to have low adherence to infection control in oral radiology. Low access to infection control was found for 53.0% of dentists in the Americas, 34.0% from Europe, and 26.9% from Asia. Conclusion: The adherence to infection control protocols in oral radiology was low even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results may help improve the awareness of students and professionals, since oral radiology routines have the potential for transmitting COVID-19.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.67-83
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• 2016

Ebola virus disease is a lethal viral hemorrhagic fever that has been boiling in sub-Saharan Africa since 1970s. Last year, The Ebola virus epidemic that has spread not only mainly in West Africa, but also in locals such as USA, Europe and the Antipodes via infected travelers, was brought up. Human-to-human transmission of Ebola virus disease is known only through direct contact with the blood, secretions, tissues or other bodily fluids, including saliva. Although there has not been reported infection cases in the dental healthcare settings, the fact that the infection of the Ebola virus may be made from human secretions such as saliva suggests that there is a high risk of infection for the Ebola virus of dental healthcare workers. Therefore, it is important dental healthcare workers to identify infection-suspected patients through the oral findings for infection prevention. This article will review the oral signs and symptoms of Ebola virus disease and discuss the pathogenesis, treatment and prevention. Furthermore, Infection control guidelines for oral healthcare workers are also proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.211-219
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to create a scoring system that provides comprehensive assessment of patients with oromaxillofacial cancer or odontogenic infection, and to statistically reevaluate the results in order to provide specific criteria for elective tracheostomy. Materials and Methods: All patients that had oral cancer surgery (group A) or odontogenic infection surgery (group B) during a period of 10 years (2003 to 2013) were subgrouped according to whether or not the patient received a tracheostomy. After a random sampling (group A: total of 56, group B: total of 60), evaulation procedures were observed based on the group classifications. For group A, four factors were evaluated: TNM stage, reconstruction methods, presence of pathologic findings on chest posterior-anterior (PA), and the number of systemic diseases. Scores were given to each item based on the scoring system suggested in this research and the scores were added together. Similarly, the sum score of group B was counted using 5 categories, including infection site, C-reactive protein level on first visit, age, presence of pathologic findings on chest PA, and number of systemic diseases. Results: The scoring system rendered from this research shows that there is a high correlation between the scores and TNM stage in oral cancer patients, or infection sites in odontogenic infection patients. However, no correlation between pathologic findings on chest PA could be found in either group. The results also indicated that for both groups, the hospital day increased with the tracheostomy score. The tracheostomy score cutoff value was 5 in oral cancer patients and 6 in odontogenic infection patients which was used for elective tracheostomy indication. Conclusion: The elective tracheostomy score system suggested by this research is a method that considers both the surgical and general conditions of the patient, and can be very useful for managing patients with severe oral disease.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.375-378
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• 1999

Incidence and mortality rate of maxillofacial infection is relatively low in the era of antibiotics. Despite the use of antibiotics, delayed treatment, underlying systemic diseases, drug-resistant microorganisms may result in life-threatening situations. The deep neck infection developed from odontogenic infection may result in sepsis, mediastinitis, aspiration pneumonia, asphyxia. Sepsis is the most dangerous complication which can quickly result in a number of lethal situations. The treatment of sepsis includes awareness of such complication, use of sensitive antibiotics, removal of infection source, and hemodynamic, respiratory and metabolic support. We experienced a patient who died of sepsis, which developed from odontogenic infection. The initial diagnosis was a buccal space cellulitis. However, in spite of medical and surgical treatment, this progressed to Ludwig's angina and then deep neck infection and finally sepsis. On the 10th hospital day, the patient died of multiorgan failure caused by sepsis.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.150-154
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• 2021

Deep neck infection (DNI) is a potentially serious pathology that can lead to serious complications and high rate of mortality. Since DNI affects the cervical spaces, which can compromise airway, aggressive antibiotic administration and prompt surgical drainage are essential for recovery. Although most causes of DNI are known to be dental infections, developmental cysts such as dentigerous cysts are relatively few causes. In this case, we report a rare patient with severe deep neck space infection caused by infected third molar with dentigerous cyst.