Dental infections investigations
Consider:
¨ Full Blood Count and film
¨ Culture for identification and sensitivity of organisms
¨ Blood Culture
¨ Investigating reduced resistance
Microbiology
The identity and antibiotic sensitivity of the causative micro-organisms can be determined from swabs taken of pus samples
Soak the swab in pus from the main abscess cavity
Try to avoid contamination from skin or mucosa
Aspirates of pus taken with a syringe and needle are more reliable
For most minor dental infections culture of micro-organisms are of little value, as by the time the results are known local treatment and broad spectrum antibiotics have resolved the problem
Reduced Resistance
Consider if there is normal response resistance to infection
Reduced resistance occurs in:
Anaemia, Neutropenia, Steroid medication, Diabetes, HIV, and Alcoholism