Fatal Tooth Infection

Many people in the U.S. only visit the dentist when they have a problem, such as a broken tooth, swelling in or around the mouth, or most commonly PAIN! In fact, according to the American Dental Association, studies show that only about half of the U.S. population regularly sees a dentist and receives regular dentist check-up and cleaning.  Well, thank goodness for emergency dentists! What the public doesn’t know is that the dental health philosophy of only seeing a dentist when you have a problem can result in severe consequences.  Dental infections can get real in a hurry, resulting in the need for hospitalization, severe illness and in rare circumstances, death.  Fatal dental infections unfortunately still occur.

          Unfortunately, a man with a Kansas City connection experienced a severe dental infection which eventually cost him his life.  During the 2016 NFL football season, wide receiver Mike Williams caught passes from the great Alex Smith (the predecessor to the GOAT) for the Kansas City Chiefs football team.  In September of 2023, Mr. Williams suffered a work injury at a construction site where heavy supplies landed on his head.  When he was admitted to the intensive care unit at a Tampa Bay, Florida area hospital, where he went into cardiac arrest before being intubated and sedated.  Yet, surprisingly the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office listed Williams' cause of death as bacterial sepsis with cerebral abscesses and necrotizing labor pneumonia due to multiple caries [cavities] and retained tooth roots.”  Retained roots are broken off teeth where only the roots of teeth remain in the gums and are a serious risk of infection.

                  This tragedy is a good reminder that if you think you have a dental problem, it’s important to see an emergency dentist as soon as possible.  While a tooth infection, in and of itself, may not be a direct threat to your life, it’s what happens when the infection spreads to other parts of your body that you need to be concerned with because the end result can be fatal.

What is sepsis? Sepsis is a serious condition which may result when the human body’s own response to a bacteria infection ends up causing damage to the body's own organs and body tissues. Those who may be at an increased risk of sepsis include those with weakened immune systems from diseases such as diabetes or other immune disorders like lupis, as well as infants and the elderly.

What are cerebral abscesses? As mentioned above, the chief serious medical concern from tooth infections comes from when the infection spreads to other parts of the body. The most deadly place for a dental infection to spread is to the brain.  A cerebral abscess, also known as a brain abscess, is a pocket filled with infection pus inside the brain.  A large abscess can put pressure on the brain which can result in a life-threatening situation.

A cerebral abscess is typically diagnosed by the appearance of a circular dark (radiolucent) shape on a CT or MRI within the brain

                  Centuries ago, specifically before the availability of modern antibiotics, dental infections were a leading cause of death. In fact during the 1600’s in London, England, death stemming from a dental infection was listed as the fifth leading cause of death.  Even as late as the beginning of the 20th century, dental infections often had mortality rates over 10%. Penicillin, the first antibiotic ever discovered, was first mass-produced in the 1940s. It is estimated that the discovery of antibiotics has extended the average human lifespan by 23 years.

                  What are the symptoms of a severe tooth infection?  When it comes to symptoms the one that generally gets people’s attention the most is good old down-home pain.  Pain from a tooth infection is usually described as constant and may be of the throbbing kind which may feel like it is spreading to the ear, eye or throat.  The second key symptom of a dental infection is the presence of swelling, representing the body’s own retaliatory immune response to the infection.  Other common symptoms of a severe tooth infection include a fever, bad taste/bad breath, and difficulty opening your mouth all of the way.

                  Dental infections are simply not something to mess around with.  If you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms of a tooth infection, it’s important to see a Kansas City emergency dentist as soon as you can.  When you need an emergency dentist on the weekends when other offices are closed, South Kansas City Emergency Dental is your emergency dentist for tooth infections. If you need an appointment, please contact us via our website at www.southkcemergencydental.com or us at 816-601-1817.