Treatment of odontogenic abscesses: comparison of primary and secondary removal of the odontogenic focus and antibiotic therapy.

The study shows that a primary removal of the odontogenic focus may have advantages over a secondary removal: (1) fewer operations, (2) shorter hospital stay and (3) shorter antibiotic therapy. Broad-spectrum penicillins in combination with beta-lactamase inhibitors are a possible, sufficient antibiotic regimen. Long-term complications are rare. No risk factors are identified in relation to these complications.