Podcast 844: Dental Infections

<p><strong>Contributor: Meghan Hurley, MD</strong></p> <p><strong>Educational Pearls:</strong></p> <p><strong>Educational Pearls:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Dental infections can be categorized into two main groups</span></li> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Infections of the gums</span></li> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="3"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Pericoronitis</span></li> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="4"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Tooth eruption leading to inflammation/irritation</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="4"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Can progress to an infection</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="4"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Requires pain control, no antibiotics</span></li> </ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="3"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Gingivitis</span></li> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="4"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Inflammation of the gums</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="4"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Can lead to an infection requiring antibiotics</span></li> </ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="3"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Abscess (gums)</span></li> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="4"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">If an infection develops in the gums it can progress to an abscess</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="4"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">May require drainage</span></li> </ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="3"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) aka Trench Mouth</span></li> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="4"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Filmy, grayish discoloration of the gums with “punched out” lesions</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="4"><span style= "fon