Necrotizing fasciitis of the face: a rare but dangerous complication of dental infection.

Necrotizing fasciitis of the face is extremely rare. However, dentists should be familiar with the presentation of this condition because of the suddenness of its onset, the rapidity of its spread, the resulting drastically disfiguring morbidity and the high rate of mortality associated with it. In this paper, we describe the presentation and treatment of a 57-year-old woman with necrotizing fasciitis of the face and neck due to dental causes and discuss factors in the management of this life-threatening condition.