Hernieuwde aandacht voor extraorale gevolgen van ontstekingen in de mond

Dental focal infections are extraoral manifestations caused by oral pathogens. Pathological oral conditions, such as periapical inflammation and periodontitis, can cause bacteremia. Dissemination of oral pathogens to nonoral sites can subsequently cause infections in extraoral tissues and organs. Cardiovascular infections and brain abscesses are the most common of these. The course of such infections can be lethal. In order to improve patient care, a closer collaboration between dental and medical caregivers is necessary.