Clinical Management of an Odontogenic Infection With an Extraoral Sinus Tract in an 11-Year-Old Child: A Case Report.

Odontogenic infections may initially present as facial cellulitis and, when left untreated, can progress to chronic infection, abscess formation, and extraoral sinus tract development. Early diagnosis and definitive management are essential to prevent complications and recurrent infection. This case report describes an 11-year-old girl who presented to the Pediatric Dental Clinic at the Dental and Maxillofacial Center (DMFC) with recurrent swelling on the left side of the face that had been intermittently treated with antibiotics for nearly one year. Clinical examination revealed an extraoral sinus tract in the left submandibular region associated with a severely carious lower left first molar. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) played an important role in establishing the odontogenic origin of the infection, demonstrating the extent of periapical pathology and buccal cortical bone destruction. Following diagnosis, definitive treatment was achieved through extraction of the affected tooth. The patient showed complete resolution of the facial swelling and extraoral sinus tract following extraction, with no further recurrence reported during follow-up. This case highlights the importance of recognizing the progression of odontogenic infection from an initial acute presentation to a chronic extraoral sinus tract in pediatric patients. It also emphasizes the diagnostic value of CBCT in complex or recurrent cases and the importance of timely definitive dental treatment rather than repeated antibiotic therapy alone.