During this episode of our Resident Series of the Everyday Oral Surgery Podcast, Jake and I walk you through the process of treating an odontogenic infection. We discuss everything from the factors that indicate the severity of an infection at the initial patient consultation (including systemic issues), to the difference between moderate and severe spaces, to the technical details about how to drain an abscess. These things will come up on a regular basis during your oral surgery career, so it is vital to understand them properly. If you are currently doing your OMS residency, this episode will help you feel more at ease when dealing with odontogenic infections!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Factors to take into consideration to determine how severe an infection is. 
• Some of the most important tests to order for a patient with an infection. 
• Benefits of looking at a patient’s imaging prior to reading their report. 
• What air looks like on a CT scan.
• Examples of things that are a cause for concern on a CT scan. 
• What a more developed abscess looks like.
• Moderate versus severe spaces.
• How infections can compromise airways. 
• The importance of understanding a patient’s systemic problems (if they have any). 
• Indications that a patient should be admitted to hospital. 
• Technical tips for draining an abscess. 
• Advice for how to approach post-operative care of your patients.
• Examples of severe complications that can arise from untreated odontogenic infections. 
• A description of each of the stages of infection.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ 

Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/?hl=en 

Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/ 

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — [email protected]

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059