Reply #4: Good on you, PCIntern...Kudos

[hlthe2b]

There have been children, who likewise have died of sepsis that originated from a readily treatable dental abscess. In years past, many public health departments had dental programs or collaborated with local dentists to try to aid the poor in gaining access to dental preventive services. From what i can tell, with budget cuts, those programs are long gone--at least regionally.

ER departments will certainly see these patients and begin antibiotics with admonishment to see a dentist the following day, but that doesn't treat the source of the problem. If these patients can not get in to see a dentist and that abscess is never treated--the tooth extracted-- these patients are at great risk.

I hope that local dental associations across the country are picking up, where public health programs have dropped the ball. Such a horrible tragedy to lose ones life because of an untreated tooth infection. sigh...