Unusual extension of a dental abscess through the pterygomandibular space in subcutaneous maxillofacial tissue.

Infections of maxillary teeth commonly spread to the buccal space, whereas infections originating in the mandible usually spread to the submandibular, pterygomandibular, and buccal spaces. The pterygomandibular space may serve as a path for spread to zygomatic areas and thus must always be a part of imaging evaluations.