Memphis-area dentist warns tooth infections can turn deadly

A Memphis-area woman’s dental infection progressed to Ludwig’s angina and sepsis, prompting Southaven specialist Dr. Pradeep Adatrow to warn patients not to ignore swelling, fever or trouble swallowing. The case underscores how fast a toothache can become an emergency and why prompt dental treatment matters.

Why it matters: - A routine toothache can turn into a life-threatening infection if symptoms are ignored. - The Memphis-area case involved Ludwig’s angina and sepsis, both of which can require urgent hospital care. - Early treatment can help prevent airway risk, bloodstream infection and emergency surgery.

What happened: - Regional One Health documented a local woman whose dental infection progressed into Ludwig’s angina. - The infection also progressed toward sepsis, forcing rapid medical intervention and hospitalization. - Dr. Pradeep Adatrow, a Southaven specialist in Periodontics and Prosthodontics, used the case to warn Memphis and Mid-South patients about the warning signs of dental infection. - Advanced Dental Implant and TMJ Center, the practice founded by Dr. Adatrow, serves patients across Memphis, Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, Hernando, DeSoto County and the broader Mid-South.

The details: - Ludwig’s angina is a serious bacterial infection involving the floor of the mouth and neck. - The infection can cause significant swelling beneath the tongue and around the airway. - Dental infections may start with a toothache, sensitivity, swelling around a tooth or a bad taste in the mouth. - Infection can spread beyond the tooth and surrounding tissues if left untreated. - Untreated infection can spread into the head and neck and, in severe cases, contribute to sepsis. - Dr. Adatrow said persistent pain with swelling, fever, trouble opening the mouth or difficulty swallowing should not be ignored. - Dr. Adatrow said the absence of severe pain does not mean the infection is harmless. - Patients should seek prompt dental evaluation for persistent or worsening tooth pain, swelling around the gums or tooth, swelling of the jaw or face, fever or chills, pus or drainage, a persistent bad taste, difficulty chewing and increasing difficulty opening the mouth. - Patients with difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, rapidly spreading swelling of the face or neck, confusion or signs of severe illness should seek emergency medical care immediately. - Antibiotics may be needed in some cases, especially when infection has spread or when patients have medical risk factors. - Antibiotics do not necessarily remove the source of infection. - Definitive treatment may include drainage, root canal therapy, periodontal treatment or extraction. - The American Dental Association recommends prioritizing definitive dental treatment for appropriate patients rather than relying on antibiotics alone. - Advanced Dental Implant and TMJ Center focuses on advanced periodontal care, dental implants, complex restorative treatment, full-mouth reconstruction, TMJ/TMD treatment and sedation dentistry. - Dr. Adatrow is dual board-certified in Periodontics and Prosthodontics. - The practice also provides full-arch reconstruction, treatment for advanced bone loss and care for complex periodontal cases. - The office is at 7135 Getwell Road, Suite 100, Southaven, MS 38672. - The practice’s website is www.adatmj.com.

Between the lines: - The warning is aimed at a common behavior: patients waiting out dental pain until it gets worse. - The case highlights how symptoms that seem manageable at first can escalate quickly once infection reaches deeper tissues. - The emphasis on airway symptoms reflects the difference between a routine dental problem and a medical emergency. - The message also pushes patients away from relying on antibiotics alone when the source of infection still needs dental treatment.

What's next: - Patients in Memphis and surrounding communities are being urged to get earlier dental evaluation when swelling, fever or drainage appears. - Patients with breathing or swallowing problems should seek emergency care instead of waiting for a dental appointment. - Dr. Adatrow is positioning specialty dental care as an option for patients with complex infections, advanced periodontal disease and difficult restorative cases.

The bottom line: - A toothache is not always minor. - When swelling, fever or swallowing problems appear, prompt treatment can keep a dental infection from becoming a medical crisis.