Management of Pediatric Odontogenic Infections Presenting to the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Clinical Study

Background: Odontogenic infections (OIs) can cause premature tooth loss in children and may lead to serious complications requiring hospitalization. Aim: To assess the clinical characteristics, management approaches, and factors influencing the duration of hospitalization in pediatric patients with OIs requiring inpatient care. Design: This retrospective study analyzed medical records of patients aged 0–12 years admitted to the emergency department (ED) between 2019 and 2021 with extra-oral swelling of odontogenic origin. Collected data included patient demographics, medical history, OI site, treatment received, and length of hospital stay (LOS). Results: A total of 153 children admitted to the ED, with a mean age of 7.07 ± 2.4 years, were diagnosed with odontogenic-related extra-oral swelling. The median time to definitive treatment after admission was 1 day, and the average LOS was 2.67 ± 1.5 days. Hospitalization exceeding 2 days was significantly associated with delayed definitive treatment initiation (> 24 h postadmission) and elevated white blood cell (WBC) counts at admission. Infections involving permanent teeth, particularly in children over 6 years old, were also linked to longer LOS. Conclusion: Delayed definitive treatment timing, permanent dentition, and elevated WBC count were significantly associated with the LOS in children with OIs. These findings emphasize the importance of early intervention to minimize LOS.