{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T16:31:19Z","timestamp":1789576279504,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,4]],"date-time":"2023-04-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1680566400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Dentistry Journal"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: The aim of this systematic review was to analyse the published literature on dental infections leading to hospitalisations in Australia. It was hoped that understanding the patterns and trends would form a basis for improved preventive and management policies. Methods: An electronic search was performed using Web of Science, Medline via Ovid and Google Scholar. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The included studies were analysed for demographics, aetiology, management, length of hospital stay and outcome of dental infections requiring hospitalisation. Results: Nine retrospective studies were eligible for inclusion. A total of 2196 cases of dental infections leading to hospitalisations were reported, with a male predominance (55\u201367%). Mental health issues, illicit substance abuse and immunosuppression were the main associated comorbidities (up to 58%). Dental caries (59\u201390%) and pericoronitis (10\u201319%) were the leading causes of dental infections. Empirical antibiotics were utilised in up to 75% of cases prior to hospital presentation. Six mortalities were reported. Conclusions: The available published data show that dental infection is a significant public health problem. However, only general conclusions were possible due to the variably small sample size and data collection that was inconsistent and incomplete across studies. Improved data collection is required to develop policies for prevention and management.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/dj11040097","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,4]],"date-time":"2023-04-04T02:30:15Z","timestamp":1680575415000},"page":"97","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["Dental Infection Requiring Hospitalisation Is a Public Health Problem in Australia: A Systematic Review Demonstrating an Urgent Need for Published Data"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Mafaz","family":"Ullah","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2750, Australia"},{"name":"Nepean Centre for Oral Health, Nepean Hospital, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, Kingswood, NSW 2747, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9910-2159","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Muhammad","family":"Irshad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Oral Pathology, Rehman College of Dentistry, Peshawar 25000, Pakistan"},{"name":"Specialised Dental Center, Ministry of Health, Sakaka Aljouf 72345, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Albert","family":"Yaacoub","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2750, Australia"},{"name":"Nepean Centre for Oral Health, Nepean Hospital, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, Kingswood, NSW 2747, Australia"},{"name":"School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eric","family":"Carter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2750, Australia"},{"name":"Nepean Centre for Oral Health, Nepean Hospital, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, Kingswood, NSW 2747, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andrew","family":"Thorpe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2750, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hans","family":"Zoellner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia"},{"name":"Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of NSW, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia"},{"name":"Strongarch Pty Ltd., Pennant Hills, NSW 2120, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stephen","family":"Cox","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2750, Australia"},{"name":"Nepean Centre for Oral Health, Nepean Hospital, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, Kingswood, NSW 2747, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"123","article-title":"Deep facial infections of odontogenic origin: CT assessment of pathways of space involvement","volume":"19","author":"Yonetsu","year":"1998","journal-title":"Am. J. Neuroradiol."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"235","article-title":"Odontogenic infections","volume":"61","author":"Ogle","year":"2017","journal-title":"Dent. Clin."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1834-7819.1995.tb04814.x","article-title":"Major maxillofacial infections. An evaluation of 107 cases","volume":"40","author":"Bridgeman","year":"1995","journal-title":"Aust. Dent. J."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.1007\/s40368-014-0110-7","article-title":"Presentation and management of facial swellings of odontogenic origin in children","volume":"15","author":"Michael","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur. Arch. Paediatr. Dent."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S74","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1834-7819.2005.tb00390.x","article-title":"Severe odontogenic infections","volume":"50","author":"Uluibau","year":"2005","journal-title":"Aust. Dent. J."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.4103\/ams.ams_251_18","article-title":"Acute Fascial Space Infections of the Neck: 1034 cases in 17 years follow up","volume":"9","author":"Prabhu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ann. Maxillofac. Surg."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jinf.2008.06.002","article-title":"Analysis of systemic and local odontogenic infection complications requiring hospital care","volume":"57","author":"Lauhio","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Infect."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cianetti, S., Valenti, C., Orso, M., Lomurno, G., Nardone, M., Lomurno, A.P., Pagano, S., and Lombardo, G. (2021). Systematic Review of the Literature on Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease in Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Individuals. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph182312360"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Acharya, A., Khan, S., Hoang, H., Bettiol, S., Goldberg, L., and Crocombe, L. (2018). Dental conditions associated with preventable hospital admissions in Australia: A systematic literature review. BMC Health Serv. Res., 18.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-018-3733-2"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.1111\/adj.12202","article-title":"Dental emergencies presenting to a general hospital emergency department in Hobart, Australia","volume":"59","author":"Verma","year":"2014","journal-title":"Aust. Dent. J."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"464","DOI":"10.1111\/adj.12538","article-title":"Clinical guideline for the management of odontogenic infections in the tertiary setting","volume":"62","author":"Vytla","year":"2017","journal-title":"Aust. Dent. J."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"140","article-title":"and M.G. Phillips, From adulation to persecution and back: Australian boxer Les Darcy in America 1916\u20131917","volume":"23","author":"Moore","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Sport Hist."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"AIHW (2019). Disparities in Potentially Preventable Hospitalisations across Australia to 2017\u20132018."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Chrisopoulos, S.H.J., and Ellershaw, A. (2016). Oral Health and Dental care in Australia: Key Facts and Figures 2015."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1111\/adj.12322","article-title":"Potentially preventable hospital separations related to oral health: A 10-year analysis","volume":"60","author":"Kruger","year":"2015","journal-title":"Aust. Dent. J."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"520","DOI":"10.1111\/ajr.12556","article-title":"Geographical variation in preventable hospital admissions for dental conditions: An Australia-wide analysis","volume":"27","author":"Crocombe","year":"2019","journal-title":"Aust. J. Rural. Health"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1071\/PY14087","article-title":"Ten years of hospitalisation for oral health-related conditions in Western Australia: An unjust dichotomy","volume":"22","author":"Kruger","year":"2016","journal-title":"Aust. J. Prim. Health"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1111\/adj.12726","article-title":"The financial burden of acute odontogenic infections: The South Australian experience","volume":"65","author":"Han","year":"2020","journal-title":"Aust. Dent. J."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1834-7819.2007.00004.x","article-title":"The Caries Management System: An evidence-based preventive strategy for dental practitioners. Application for adults","volume":"53","author":"Evans","year":"2008","journal-title":"Aust. Dent. J."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Flynn, T.R. (2013). Principles of Management and Prevention of Odontogenic Infections. Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery-E-Book, Elsevier.","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-323-09177-0.00016-5"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liberati, M., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D.G., and PRISMA Group (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Med., 6.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1000100"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"420","DOI":"10.5195\/jmla.2018.345","article-title":"The impact of patient, intervention, comparison, outcome (PICO) as a search strategy tool on literature search quality: A systematic review","volume":"106","author":"Eriksen","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Med. Libr. Assoc."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Hong, Q.N., Pluye, P., Fabregues, S., Bartlett, G., Boardman, F., Cargo, M., Dagenais, P., Gagnon, M.-P., Griffiths, F., and Nicolau, B. (2018). Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), Version 2018, Canadian Intellectual Property Office. Registration of Copyright (#1148552)."},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"420","article-title":"Morbidity and mortality in patients admitted with submandibular space infections to the intensive care unit","volume":"43","author":"Sundararajan","year":"2015","journal-title":"Anaesth. Intensiv. Care"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1111\/adj.12607","article-title":"Antibiotic resistance in severe odontogenic infections of the South Australian population: A 9-year retrospective audit","volume":"63","author":"Liau","year":"2018","journal-title":"Aust. Dent. J."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2340","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joms.2018.05.021","article-title":"Increasing Use of Intensive Care Unit for Odontogenic Infection Over One Decade: Incidence and Predictors","volume":"76","author":"Fu","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bjoms.2020.01.011","article-title":"Increasing frequency and severity of odontogenic infection requiring hospital admission and surgical management","volume":"58","author":"Fu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.bdj.2009.4","article-title":"Cervicofacial infection of dental origin presenting to maxillofacial surgery units in the United Kingdom: A national audit","volume":"206","author":"Carter","year":"2009","journal-title":"Br. Dent. J."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1016\/j.adaj.2016.11.033","article-title":"Characteristics, length of stay, and hospital bills associated with severe odontogenic infections in Houston, TX","volume":"148","author":"Gams","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Am. Dent. Assoc."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e296","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijid.2011.12.014","article-title":"Odontogenic maxillofacial space infections at a tertiary care center in North India: A five-year retrospective study","volume":"16","author":"Mathew","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int. J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"498","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcms.2013.06.009","article-title":"Evolution assessment of head and neck infections in diabetic patients\u2014A case control study","volume":"42","author":"Juncar","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Cranio-Maxillofacial Surg."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1386","DOI":"10.1016\/S0278-2391(96)90249-9","article-title":"Risk factors affecting hospital length of stay in patients with odontogenic maxillofacial infections","volume":"54","author":"Peters","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"144","DOI":"10.1016\/S0278-2391(00)90327-6","article-title":"Cervical necrotizing fasciitis of odontogenic origin: A case report and review of 12 cases","volume":"58","author":"Whitesides","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.1097\/PSY.0000000000000135","article-title":"A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Association Between Poor Oral Health and Severe Mental Illness","volume":"77","author":"Kisely","year":"2015","journal-title":"Psychosom. Med."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"765","DOI":"10.1111\/add.13754","article-title":"A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between poor oral health and substance abuse","volume":"112","author":"Baghaie","year":"2017","journal-title":"Addiction"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"285","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcms.2014.12.002","article-title":"Incidence and management of severe odontogenic infections\u2014A retrospective analysis from 2004 to 2011","volume":"43","author":"Opitz","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Cranio-Maxillofacial Surg."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"589","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tripleo.2004.07.012","article-title":"Anatomical considerations for the spread of odontogenic infection originating from the pericoronitis of impacted mandibular third molar: Computed tomographic analyses","volume":"98","author":"Ohshima","year":"2004","journal-title":"Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endodontology"},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH) (2019). Australia\u2019s Oral Health: National Study of Adult Oral Health 2017\u201318, The University of Adelaide."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"542","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-842X.2004.tb00044.x","article-title":"Changes in caries experience among Australian public dental patients between 1995\/96 and 2001\/02","volume":"28","author":"Brennan","year":"2004","journal-title":"Aust. N. Z. J. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"444","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1753-6405.2008.00277.x","article-title":"Social inequality in use of dental services: Relief of pain and extractions","volume":"32","author":"Luzzi","year":"2008","journal-title":"Aust. N. Zeal. J. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_41","unstructured":"Thompson, W., Williams, D., Pulcini, C., Sanderson, S., Calfon, P., and Verma, M. (2020). FDI White Paper: The Essential Role of the Dental Team in Reducing Antibiotic Resistance, FDI."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1104","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joen.2013.04.042","article-title":"Outcomes of Hospitalizations Attributed to Periapical Abscess from 2000 to 2008: A Longitudinal Trend Analysis","volume":"39","author":"Shah","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Endod."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1107","DOI":"10.14219\/jada.archive.2010.0341","article-title":"Outcomes in patients hospitalized for periapical abscess in the United States","volume":"141","author":"Allareddy","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Am. Dent. Assoc."},{"key":"ref_44","unstructured":"Biggs, A. (2008). Overview of Commonwealth Involvement in Funding Dental Care."},{"key":"ref_45","unstructured":"Satur, J. (2016). Oral Health and Dental Services. Understanding the Australian Health Care System."},{"key":"ref_46","unstructured":"AIHW (2018). A Discussion of Public Dental Waiting Times Information in Australia: 2013-14 to 2016-17."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-842X.1997.tb01652.x","article-title":"Service provision among adult public dental service patients: Baseline data from the Commonwealth Dental Health Program","volume":"21","author":"Brennan","year":"1997","journal-title":"Aust. N. Z. J. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Carli, E., Pasini, M., Pardossi, F., Capotosti, I., Narzisi, A., and Lardani, L. (2022). Oral Health Preventive Program in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Children, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/children9040535"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1753-6405.2011.00807.x","article-title":"Description of comprehensive dental services supported by the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme in the first 23 months of operation","volume":"36","author":"Palfreeman","year":"2012","journal-title":"Aust. N. Z. J. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"304","DOI":"10.1071\/AH19011","article-title":"Retrospective analysis of utilisation of the Australian Child Dental Benefit Scheme","volume":"44","author":"Putri","year":"2020","journal-title":"Aust. Health Rev."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"n71","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.n71","article-title":"The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews","volume":"372","author":"Page","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ"}],"container-title":["Dentistry Journal"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-6767\/11\/4\/97\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T19:09:36Z","timestamp":1760123376000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-6767\/11\/4\/97"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,4]]},"references-count":51,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,4]]}},"alternative-id":["dj11040097"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/dj11040097","relation":{},"ISSN":["2304-6767"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2304-6767","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,4]]}}}