What is dental focal infection?

Do you have long-standing inflammation in your body? Contact us, because it is possible that the treatment of a dental problem or dental foci is the solution!

What is a dental foci or dental focal infection?

A lot of us could have encountered the phenomenon that our doctor is unable to find the cause of our disease, or an existing symptome is unwilling to resolve, or following a temporary period of healing our complaints reappear, or the treating specialist has no explanation for the “functioning” of our disease. A conscientious and experienced doctor will suspect hidden dental foci in the background and refer the patient for a localisation of dental foci or dental focal infection.

How does focal infection work?

A focal infection is a pathological process in which an inflammatory disease of a given organ (the tooth, for instance) or group of organs causes a secondary disease at a remote point in the body. The chronic infection triggering the disease is called the focus of infection.

Why is it important to be found?

The dental focus itself tends to be asymptomatic, causes no pain, but insidiously “blends in” with its environment and triggers a long-enduring “dormant” inflammation in which different bacteria dwell releasing toxins which are transferred by the blood and the lymphatic system to distant regions of the body. The dental focus of infection finds its way to our “weak spot”, organs less capable of defence, and gives rise to a disease.

What could be the root cause of dental foci?

• Necrosis of a tooth (deep caries, neglected mouth)
• Due to an inappropriate root canal filling, or an infection remaining in the root canal in the wake of an unprofessional root canal extension, a granuloma or cyst forms on the tooth
• Inflammation around the implant (periimplantitis)
• Infected piece of the root remained in the maxillary sinus or in the jaw bone
• Untreated tooth having chipped off in an accident
• Unerupted teeth remaining partially or fully under the gums (impacted teeth)
• Pockets formed due to untreated periodontal disease

What could cause dental foci? Which organs/systems could be affected?

• Cardiovascular system: pericarditis, vasoconstriction
• Preterm birth
• Digestive system: gastric and duodenal ulcers, Crohn’s disease
• Kidney and liver complaints
• Respiratory system: lung abscess
• Nervous system disorders: meningitis, brain abscess
• Locomotor system: arthritis, rheumatic pains
• Dermatological inflammations (eczema, hair loss, bald patches)
• Inflammation of the iris, cyclitis (inflammation of the ciliary body)

How long does it take to recover from this kind of infection (dental foci)?

In general, these diseases disappear almost without exception as soon as the underlying cause, in this case the dental foci, is treated. That is why it is very important to check the condition of our teeth with a regular annual check-up with our dentist, and to make sure with the help of a CBCT scan that we do not have any latent dental foci. It is also important to know that many surgeries are not even performed until there are any foci present in the body. They do not perform transplants, heart valve surgery, or prosthetic implantation, but even with a simple anesthesia, complications can occur if there is a focus.

If you need to check, if you have any latent dental foci, then come and visit us. Our 3D CBCT or dental CT machine is very precise.