Management of 112 hospitalized patients with spreading odontogenic infections: correlation with DMFT and oral health impact. Profile 14 indexes

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report our experience in treating patients affected by spreading odontogenic infections and to discuss their management and outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Demographic and clinical information was collected from hospitalized patient records. Decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index was calculated for 45 randomly selected patients. Statistical analysis was used to search for associations among multiple variables. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of the variance by univariate test found significant associations between a longer hospital stay and patients >30 years old (P < .05) and patients with the presenting symptoms of dysphagia and/or dyspnea (P < .05). Statistical analysis using Fisher exact test found significant associations between patients with a DMFT index >10 and female patients (P < .05), patients >30 years old (P < .005), and a hospital stay >4 days (P < .0005). CONCLUSIONS: Rapid resolution of the infection was appreciated when removal of the cause, drainage of the infection, and intravenous antibiotics were performed.