infection

Antibiotics After Wisdom Teeth Removal Can Lead to Life Threatening Infection

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One subject of debate regarding those who have wisdom teeth removed is whether or not to take antibiotics and if so should you take them before or after surgery. This has been covered on this site before in such posts as 1) Antibiotics for Dental Use Contributing to SuperBugs, 2) The Effect of a Single Dose of Antibiotics Prior to Wisdom Teeth Surgery, and 3) Patient’s Perception of Antibiotic Need After Teeth Removal. Some guidance seems to indicate that a single antibiotic before dental surgery should be given to high risk patients for postoperative infections but in other patients that are healthy an antibiotic is not needed. Some may question this approach, but antibiotics can contribute the development of Clostridium difficile (C. diff or C. difficile), a serious and possibly deadly infection that is accompanied by severe diarrhea. In one case a man … Read more

How often do Deep Fascial Space Infections Occur After Wisdom Teeth Extraction?

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An interesting article titled “Incidence of deep fascial space infections following lower third molar removal” written by O’Connor et al. appears in the 2018 edition of Oral Surgery (vol. 11, pp. 17-21). The article seeks to explore how many infections of the deep fascial spaces occur after wisdom teeth removal. The authors say that while an infection is commonly disclosed as a complication following wisdom teeth surgery many patients may not be familiar with the fact that when an infection occurs they may have to be hospitalized, given intravenous antibiotics, and require surgery under general anesthesia which could lead to scarring. These systemic infections can involve deep fascial spaces of the neck, which can lead to endotracheal airway protection, systemic sepsis, and death. In the article a study is conducted using 723 patients who had lower wisdom teeth extracted in … Read more

Infected Wisdom Tooth Leads to Coma In Young Woman

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As has been covered before on this site, wisdom teeth extraction can lead to complications that can be life-long and lasting. On the other hand keeping wisdom teeth and not having them removed can also lead to risks and life-long problems. A recent case of this occurred in a woman who was 23 years old at the time she developed problems. The woman developed a rash and flu-like symptoms. A few days after this her tongue and throat began to swell and this blocked her airways. She was then taken to the emergency room at a hospital where doctors began to investigate. There her blood pressure dropped rapidly and doctors put her in a coma for nine days to try to determine what was going on. After several tests the doctors determined the woman was suffering from Ludwig’s angina which … Read more

Oral Surgeons License Suspended for Five Years After Patients Contract Bacterial Infection of the Heart

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An oral surgeon in New Jersey has agreed to a five year suspension of his license after 15 patients contracted the bacterial heart infection endocarditis at his office. The oral surgeon also agreed to pay $243,500 in penalties and $50,000 in costs totaling $293,500, to resolve the State of New Jersey’s allegations that he exposed his patients to the risk of contracting endocarditis due to his failure to follow proper infection control procedures at this office. Twelve of the fifteen patients who contracted endocarditis required subsequent surgery and one died as a result of the bacterial heart infection. The investigation into the oral surgeon’s practice began after a 25 year old man was diagnosed with endocarditis about five weeks after having two of his wisdom teeth extracted in June 2014. Specifically the New Jersey Department of Health officials and Enforcement … Read more

Risks of Keeping Wisdom Teeth: Infected Wisdom Tooth Removal Leads to Sepsis

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Recently a case of a 25 year old woman from England who developed an infected wisdom tooth has been reported. The woman had the infected wisdom tooth removed in December 2018 after repeated infections had developed. Unfortunately the surgery was eventful and the woman developed complications. Two days after the extraction the woman was not able to hold down any food nor any water. She was urged to go to a hospital by a doctor and spent four days at a hospital. While at the hospital she went into septic shock and was diagnosed with sepsis. She was given intravenous antibiotics and liquids. It was believed that when the wisdom tooth was removed the infection that was present went into her bloodstream. When she was released from the hospital the woman was given six different medications to take. Roughly six … Read more