Focal infection caused by dental diseases

You may not have thought about it, but it is quite possible that the condition of your teeth will affect the condition of other organs or organ systems in the body. There are many cases in which patients with dental problems develop side effects in other parts of the body, and subsequently they grow into a complete clinical picture. If the cause of their appearance, ie the dental problem, is not identified in time, it can lead to serious health complications, as well as to serious diseases, as well as chronic diseases.
In modern dentistry, such investigative-causal relationships are usually referred to by the general term focal infection from a disease in the oral cavity, including an already dead tooth. Very often poorly treated canals of devitalized teeth become a depot of pathogenic bacteria. Due to the inability of the immune system to cope with the infection in such places, the disease can last for years - small amounts of bacteria enter the bloodstream, affecting other organs and systems. The focal infection itself is a general medical problem precisely because it can affect other medical indicators of the patient - that is, those that are not related to his dental health. Recently, this type of infection is not uncommon, which is why in today's article we decided to describe in detail its nature, as well as give you guidelines on how to recognize it and what measures should be taken to identify it.

What is a focal infection?

By focal infection we mean an infection with a specific focus. The word "focal" literally means "confined to one place," "inflammation in a specific focus." Like any other infection, a focal infection is not so much a consequence of a problem as a process. And from here follows the conclusion that the counteraction is extremely important to be carried out in time. Unfortunately, focal infection is rarely diagnosed by medical professionals because they usually look for the cause of the disease in their field of activity and not in the dental field. However, in the presence of the following symptoms, specialists can suggest it and make the necessary tests to confirm or rule it out: constantly maintained mild fever (usually not more than 37.2, which is why it differs from the standard cold, viral or influenza). condition), skin problems, changes in the blood picture without the presence of any serious and / or chronic diseases, sinusitis, arthritis and rheumatoid symptoms, extrasystolic arrhythmia of unknown origin, frequent inflammation of the ears and eustachian tube.

How does a focal infection occur?

In this article we look at focal infection, which can be caused by a number of dental diseases, but also conditions, as well as even implemented but unsuccessful treatments in the oral cavity. Focal infection can be caused both by a decayed and diseased tooth and by its inadequate treatment. Sometimes a focal infection can occur without any pain in the already treated tooth. This makes it even more difficult to detect and identify as the cause of other side symptoms in the body. At the same time, however, focal infection can also be caused by cysts of dental origin, as well as gum problems, most often periodontitis. Teeth with deep caries, as well as improper root canal treatment, as well as the presence of reduced vitality of the tooth structure can also lead to a similar type of infection. Pulp gangrene, periodontitis, difficulty in drilling a tooth, retained teeth and partial retention often lead to focal infection.

What can a focal infection lead to?

What are the cases in which specialists suspect a focal infection due to dental diseases? These are, in fact, the specific diseases that can be caused by an infection formed in the oral cavity. And since we mentioned only diseases of the teeth and gums above, it should be clarified that focal infection can also be caused by inflammation of the mucous membranes and sometimes the sinuses. Here are the diseases that most often start a study to look for an outbreak of dental origin:
• Alopecia (hair, eyebrows, beard)
• Urticaria
• Allergic skin reactions in the form of peeling, rash and itching,
• Let's go to Quincke
• Chronic staphylococcal infection
• Lichen ruber planus
• Leukoplakia
• Rheumatoid and reactive arthritis
• Inflammatory kidney disease
• Hypertension,
• Arrhythmia
• Hashimoto's thyroiditis
• Some neurological and autoimmune diseases
• Endocarditis, pericarditis
• Encephalitis, meningitis

What to do in case of focal infection from dental diseases?

The most difficult part of treating a focal infection from a dental disease is its detection. Once the connection between the dental problem and the symptoms outside the oral cavity is made, things fall into place. When it happens question about a diseased tooth, periodontitis and other problems visible to the dentist, focal infection is easy to diagnose. The approach becomes more difficult in the presence of chronic periodontitis (granuloma, cyst). Most often in such cases there is a need for focal diagnostic, local thermometric test, electroodontodiagnostics (EOD) and pathogalvanism test. Sometimes an analysis of X-rays and other types of tests is also needed. Then, of course, the dentist proceeds to eliminate the cause of the infection in question, including treatment, changing the approach to already applied implant therapy and others.

At the Dental Clinic Aleksandar Valev you will receive the necessary help and consultation in case of suspicion of a focal infection of dental origin. It is important to make an appointment as soon as possible after you have identified the symptoms we have already identified. This is the only way to ensure that the problem is dealt with in a timely manner and to prevent complications.