The third molar as a cause of deep space infections.

An 81-month review of patients with deep space infections attributed to third molars requiring hospital admission is presented. Thirty-one patients were identified, with males predominating 2:1 and mandibular third molars as an etiology predominating 15:1. All patients were aged 23 years or older. Most patients identified (24) had one or more medical problems or other risk factors, the most frequent of which was smoking (18). All patients developing postoperative infections (9) had complete or partial bone impactions and a preoperative diagnosis of pericoronitis.