Causes of pediatric facial swelling
Investigators undertook a systems-level analysis to determine the factors influencing the onset and course of care for facial cellulitis of odontogenic origin among pediatric patients.
In a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, the investigators analyzed the electronic health records of 201 pediatric patients who were diagnosed with facial cellulitis of odontogenic origin following a visit to a pediatric hospital dental clinic.
The investigators found that nearly three-quarters of the facial cellulitis of odontogenic origin cases were resultant from dental caries, whereas nearly one-quarter of them were caused by failed dental restorative procedures. The remaining nearly 5% of the cases were related to either oral pathology or dental trauma. The patients with the greatest risk of receiving more intensive treatment for facial cellulitis of odontogenic origin included those who didn’t have a history of an initial dental visit, those without an established dental home, those who were younger and those with specific health care needs.
The findings indicate the critical need to establish a dental home among patients. When patients visit hospitals for the condition, the investigators emphasized the benefit of interdisciplinary communication between health and dental care providers.
Read more: JADA
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