ODONTOGENIC INFECTIONS: WHAT THE PRACTITIONER NEEDS TO KNOW AND WHAT TO DO

Odontogenic infections that take place within the clinical experience of dental professionals are nowadays considered to be a major public health problem. They are responsible for the growth of morbidity and mortality, even though this occurrence has decreased over the years. It is a disease of an urgent nature that requires immediate care in order to avoid possible systemic involvement. Nevertheless, the general state of the patient's systemic health can influence the spread and worsening of the disease, making its treatment more difficult. For this reason, this work aims to: (1) emphasize the importance of knowledge of severe oral and maxillofacial infections; (2) recognize the importance of dental surgeons in the morbidity and mortality of the patient; and (3) evaluate the characteristics, causes, classifications, clinical manifestations and treatment of severe odontogenic infections, using as reference cases of celebrities who have gone through this experience.