Poor Oral Health Linked to Greater Severity of Peritonsillar and Cervical Infections: Study Shows

Peritonsillar phlegmon and laterocervical abscesses are complications of oropharyngeal infections that can escalate quickly, requiring urgent medical attention. While poor oral hygiene and dental issues have long been acknowledged as risk factors for such infections, the study delved deeper into whether dental status affects the severity of these conditions and the treatment approach required.

The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of patients hospitalized with peritonsillar phlegmon, peritonsillar abscess, or laterocervical/submandibular abscess. Data on dental health—such as the presence of dental implants, prior dental procedures, and general dentition status—were examined alongside clinical outcomes like treatment complexity and length of hospital stay.

Findings revealed several notable trends, which are summarized as follows:

• Patients with a history of dental work were more likely to require complex treatments, including corticosteroid therapy.
• Individuals with poor dentition also showed a higher likelihood of undergoing complex treatments.
• Patients without dental implants received antibiotics more frequently.
• The absence of dental implants was associated with longer hospital stays.
• Poor dentition, despite less frequent corticosteroid use, was linked to more severe infection types.
• Inadequate oral health appeared to be associated with a stronger inflammatory response and a more complicated infection course.

The study concluded that dental health may influence not only the nature of oropharyngeal infections but also how aggressively they must be treated. Although the data did not establish a direct causal relationship, the observed associations support the idea that oral health plays a significant role in infection outcomes.

“These results highlight the importance of incorporating dental evaluations into the broader management of head and neck infections,” the authors noted. They emphasized the need for a collaborative approach involving ENT specialists and dental professionals to better address such infections and potentially reduce their severity through preventive care.

The researchers also called for future prospective studies to further investigate the role of oral hygiene and microbial factors in the development and progression of these infections. They suggest that early dental intervention and routine oral health monitoring could serve as valuable strategies to curb the severity and improve the prognosis of peritonsillar and cervical infections.

They concluded, "Overall, the study highlights the broader implications of dental health beyond the oral cavity, reinforcing its importance in systemic health and infection control."

Reference:

Venter, F. C., Ghitea, T. C., Venter, A. N., Ghitea, E. C., Ghitea, M. C., & Venter, A. (2025). The role of dental status in the pathogenesis and severity of peritonsillar and cervical infections. Frontiers in Medicine, 12, 1590310. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2025.1590310