Problems · Infection
Post-Treatment Infection
Most post-operative discomfort settles within days. Infection that spreads is a medical emergency — and a common negligence theme.
5 min readUpdated November 2025
Common patterns
Where infection typically starts
- Untreated dental abscesses left to spread over months.
- Retained root fragments after extraction.
- Contaminated root canal treatment sealed under a crown.
- Peri-implantitis around a badly-placed implant.
Serious risks
How bad it can get
Untreated dental infection can progress to Ludwig's angina, cavernous sinus thrombosis or systemic sepsis — all life-threatening. Even lesser infections often mean bone loss, tooth loss and expensive reconstruction.
The standard
What competent care looks like
Early recognition of the signs, appropriate antibiotics, drainage where needed and prompt onward referral. Repeatedly reassuring a patient in obvious pain is a hallmark of negligent management.
A confidential first step
