A<unk>  infection resulting in an<unk>  and inflammation of the maxillary sinus CT scan showing a large tooth<unk>  (right in the image) with significant inflammation of fatty tissue under the skin If left untreated, a severe tooth<unk>  may become large enough to perforate bone and extend into the soft tissue eventually becoming osteomyelitis and cellulitis respectively. From there it follows the path of least resistance and may spread either internally or externally. The path of the infection is influenced by such things as the location of the infected tooth and the thickness of the bone, muscle and fascia attachments. External drainage may begin as a boil which bursts allowing pus drainage from the<unk> , intraorally (usually through the gum) or extraorally. Chronic drainage will allow an epithelial lining to form in this communication to form a pus draining canal (fistula). Sometimes this type of drainage will immediately relieve some of the painful symptoms associated with the pressure. Internal drainage is of more concern as growing infection makes space within the tissues surrounding the infection. Severe complications requiring immediate hospitalization include Ludwig's angina, which is a combination of growing infection and cellulitis which closes the airway space causing suffocation in extreme cases. Also infection can spread down the tissue spaces to the mediastinum which has significant consequences on the vital organs such as the heart. Another complication, usually from upper teeth, is a risk of sepsis from connecting into blood vessels, brain<unk>  (extremely rare), or meningitis (also rare). Depending on the severity of the infection, the sufferer may feel only mildly ill, or may in extreme cases require hospital care.
Dental abscess
Periodontal abscess
Gingival cyst
Salivary gland fistula
Posthitis
Median mandibular cyst
Nasal fracture
Cuffitis