Antibiotic Therapy and Bacterial Odontogenic Infections: An Overview

Odontogenic infections (OIs) are common in the oral and maxillofacial regions and can affect both genders at any age.Infection of the dental pulp resulting from caries and their major pathogens, the streptococci, is the most important cause of OIs.In fact, following bacterial attack, the dental pulp becomes necrotic and the bacteria of the normal flora undergo a change from main aerobes to anaerobes leading to an abscess formation at the apex of the root.In some cases, the infection may spread to the surrounding spaces resulting in additional complications.Hence, their early diagnosis and adequate therapy are requisite.Successfully treating OIs depends from one side on eliminating the causal factor and from the other side selecting the appropriate anti-infectious agent.This selection should be considered according to each and every clinical case based on clinical and bacteriological factors, with the use of broadspectrum antibiotics for short periods of time.This article aims to set out the most common odontogenic infectious diseases as well as the involved germs and to help dentists choosing the right antibiotic.