Ludwigs Angina is a very serious dental infection that can cause someone to die. Before the discovery of antibiotics it was common for people to die from dental infections. Dentistry has done an excellent job of keeping people healthy. However, a new threat is developing, antibiotic resistant bacteria that can cause serious dental infections and kill.

          Ludwig's Angina is when a tooth abscess gets out of hand and forms buckets of pus. It grows at an alarming rate and the pus fills up underneath the lower jaw. This pus has no where to go so it enlarges and distorts the patient's face.

         The most serious complication of Ludwig's Angina is suffocation from the tremendous amount of pus blocking off the unfortunate patient's windpipe. These deaths are often avoidable and result from many patients refusing to have regular and routine dental care.

         Of course, regular professional care combined with good home care finds dental problems early when they are easy to treat and helps avoid serious problems such as Ludwig's angina or brain abscesses. Removing tooth decay early before it kills a tooth avoids problems. Cosmetic dental fillings can replace the missing tooth structure after a dentist has removed the decay. Dead tissue inside a dead tooth can be used as food by antibiotic resistant bacteria. A root canal eliminates the dead tissue before these bacteria can cause problems. Having dental extractions done on dead teeth also prevents or limits dental infections. However, losing a tooth is not a good thing. If you are having dental problems and would like to consult with Dr. Smith or Dr. Padolsky, make an appointment by calling 404-874-7428.