Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39888034›Full record

ArticleInternational endodontic journal2025

Association between endodontic, patient-related factors and severe odontogenic infections; a South Australian retrospective audit.

Laura Petroff, Ruby Richardson, Emilija Jensen, Andrew Cheng, Paul Sambrook, Giampiero Rossi-Fedele

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International endodontic journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Laura PetroffAdelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Ruby RichardsonAdelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Emilija JensenAdelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Andrew ChengAdelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Paul SambrookAdelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Giampiero Rossi-FedeleAdelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8287-1226

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimEndodontic conditions are associated with severe odontogenic infections. However, no studies have explicitly explored their role in the infectious process. This study aimed to assess associations between tooth-related and patient-related factors resulting in severe odontogenic infections and clinical care needs. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective audit was conducted of all records of patients who presented with severe odontogenic infections requiring admission between 2018 and 2023, at the largest public hospital in South Australia. Pericoronitis, postoperative, and non-odontogenic infections were excluded. Associations between tooth-related factors (type, location, presence/absence of caries, restorations, root canal filling, apical periodontitis, and space of infection), patients-related factors (diabetes and smoking statuses), clinical management (length of admission, intensive care unit admission number of days, and need for general anaesthesia) were explored. χ

resultsOf 382 records identified, 189 met the inclusion criteria. Mandibular (95.8%) molars (92.1%) were the most commonly offending teeth. Eight (4.2%) were root canal filled, 27 (14.3%) restored, 166 carious (87.8%), and 181 (95.8%) were associated with an apical radiolucency. Over half the sample were smokers (56.9%) and 16.4% were diabetics. The most common infection involved the submandibular space (56.1%). Intensive care unit admission was required for 157 patients (83.1%), and stay depended on the space of infection, with buccal space having the shortest duration (median 1 day) compared with submandibular (median 4 days) (p < .001). Need for general anaesthesia was associated with Ludwig's angina (n = 3, 100%) (p = .04) and submandibular space infection (n = 104, 98.1%) (p < .001), plus intensive care unit admission (p < .001). Conversely, for buccal space infection, the need for general anaesthesia was lower (n = 5, 23.8%). No further significant differences were found.

conclusionUntreated mandibular molars with apical periodontitis were the most frequent tooth-related findings. Results from the present study suggest associations between the most severe clinical presentations (Ludwig's angina and submandibular infection) and complexity in clinical care. Buccal space infections required the least complex management.

Indexed as

Dental CariesInfectionsPeriapical PeriodontitisRoot Canal TherapyAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsSouth AustraliaYoung Adultcomorbiditiesdental cariesexacerbationsLudwig's anginaperiapical periodontitissmoking

Identifiers

PMID39888034
PMCPMC11979321

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.