ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Med.
Sec. Infectious Diseases: Pathogenesis and Therapy
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1590310
The Role of Dental Status in the Pathogenesis and Severity of Peritonsillar and Cervical Infections
Provisionally accepted
Florian Ciprian Venter1,2
Timea Claudia Ghitea1,3,4*Adrian Nicolae Venter5Amin-Florin El-Kharoubi5Mousa El-Kharoubi6Evelin Claudia Ghitea1Marc Cristian Ghitea1Amina Venter2- 1University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
- 2Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
- 3Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea, Bihor, Romania
- 4Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea, Bihor, Romania
- 5Emergency County Clinical Hospital of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
- 6Emergency County Hospital Targu Mures, Târgu-Mureş, Romania
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Peritonsillar and cervical infections, such as peritonsillar phlegmon and laterocervical abscesses, are serious complications of oropharyngeal infections. Although poor dental status and inadequate oral hygiene are recognized risk factors, their association with infection severity remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to assess the relationship between dental status and the clinical severity and management of peritonsillar and cervical infections.In this retrospective cohort study, hospitalized patients diagnosed with peritonsillar phlegmon, laterocervical/submandibular abscess, or peritonsillar abscess were included. Clinical and biological data, including dental work, dental implants, dentition quality, treatment, and hospitalization duration, were analyzed. Statistical tests and regression analyses were performed to explore associations between dental status and infection-related outcomes.Patients with prior dental work or compromised dentition more frequently underwent complex treatments, including corticosteroids. Absence of dental implants was associated with increased antibiotic use and prolonged hospitalization. Although patients with poor dentition required corticosteroids less frequently, they presented more severe infection patterns.Dental status may be associated with differences in infection severity and treatment patterns among patients with peritonsillar and cervical infections. These findings underscore the potential value of maintaining good oral health as part of a multidisciplinary approach involving ENT specialists and dental professionals.
Keywords: Peritonsillar infections, cervical abscesses, Dental status, Oral Hygiene, Dental work, Dental Implants, poor dentition, Antibiotic therapy
Received: 09 Mar 2025; Accepted: 23 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Venter, Ghitea, Venter, El-Kharoubi, El-Kharoubi, Ghitea, Ghitea and Venter. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Timea Claudia Ghitea, University of Oradea, Oradea, 410100, Romania
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