A patient with a dental abscess may experience sudden death.
Causes of sudden death associated with a dental abscess:
(1) obstruction of the airway
(2) sepsis with multi-organ failure or cardiac arrest
(3) cardiac arrhythmia
Risk factors for death:
(1) delay in or failure to treat adequately
(2) therapy with antibiotics alone
(3) fulminant course
Contributory factors:
(1) substance abuse with or without homelessness
(2) diabetes
(3) lack of dental services
(4) corticosteroid therapy or immunosuppression
(5) neutropenia
(6) poor oral hygiene
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Specialty: Clinical Laboratory, Otolaryngology