Author/Authors :
Kojima, Yuki Department of Physiology - Tokyo Dental College, Misaki-cho, Tokyo, Japan , Kojima, Mizuha Sakaguchi Dental Clinic, Kasuga, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan , Sakaguchi, Kazuhiro Sakaguchi Dental Clinic, Kasuga, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan , Sakaguchi, Yutaka Sakaguchi Dental Clinic, Kasuga, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan
Abstract :
We report a case of buccal abscess caused by an impacted wisdom tooth in an extremely elderly person with malnutrition. The
patient was a 94-year-old man, who complained that he had found it hard to open his mouth and that his cheek had been swollen
for the previous 2 weeks. He had a shallow oral wound caused by an improperly fitting denture; however, the wound became
infected. We performed incisional drainage of the abscess under local anesthesia. The swelling disappeared and he was able to open
his mouth 55 mm. The elderly have a high risk of healing failure of injuries and it has been reported that infection in a host in a
compromised state is severely intractable. This elderly patient was in a compromised state because of malnutrition. Cases such as
this one will increase as the elderly population increases. Dentists need to consider the quality of life of patients with a longer life
expectancy and should offer patients several treatment options before their general condition deteriorates.
