Poor oral health increases severity of infections

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 23. July 2025

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ORADEA, Romania: Ongoing research continues to illuminate the plethora of ways in which oral and systemic health influence each other. While odontogenic infections are known contributors to deep neck space infections, the specific impact of dental status—such as tooth loss or dental work—on the clinical course of peritonsillar and deep neck space infections is under-explored. A recent Romanian study has assessed whether dental status is associated with differences in clinical presentation, therapeutic approach and hospitalisation duration and found that poor dental health can significantly influence the severity and treatment of life-threatening peritonsillar and deep neck space infections.

In this retrospective cohort study conducted across Romanian hospitals, patients admitted with peritonsillar phlegmon, peritonsillar abscess, or laterocervical or submandibular abscess were assessed for various dental health indicators, including the presence of implants, prior dental treatments and overall dentition quality. The researchers found that individuals with prior dental work tended to require complex treatment, including corticosteroid therapy. Poor dentition was similarly associated with more severe forms of infection and the need for intensive clinical management. Patients without dental implants experienced longer hospital stays and more frequent antibiotic and analgesic use, suggesting a heightened burden of disease.

These outcomes point to more pronounced inflammatory responses and complications in individuals with poor oral health. The study authors proposed that previous dental work may leave behind sites of chronic inflammation or bacterial biofilm, which can act as reservoirs and facilitate the spread of infection in the head and neck region.

Given the potential severity of peritonsillar and deep neck space infections, the study underscores oral health as an important and modifiable factor in infection prevention. The authors recommended greater emphasis on dental hygiene, regular oral assessments in ENT settings and stronger interdisciplinary cooperation between dentists and otolaryngologists as part of a comprehensive public health approach.

The study is crucial in that it moves beyond past research demonstrating a causal link between oral health and related infections by suggesting that oral health may act as an important modifying risk factor for non-dental infections. However, the study’s retrospective nature and relatively small sample size limit its generalisability. The authors pointed to the absence of detailed oral health measures such as periodontal status or plaque indices, and data on lifestyle factors like smoking and alcohol use, which may influence infection severity and treatment response, was not collected.

The findings underscore the vital role of dentistry in systemic health. For clinicians across both fields, prioritising oral care could be key in reducing the severity and complications of serious oropharyngeal infections.

The study, titled “The role of dental status in the pathogenesis and severity of peritonsillar and cervical infections”, was published online on 14 July 2025 in Frontiers in Medicine.