ABSTRACT
Anaerobic bacteria are part of the normal oral flora and outnumber aerobic organisms by a ratio of 1:10 at this site. It is, therefore, not surprising to find them predominant in dental infection. The complexity of the oral and dental flora has prevented the clear elucidation of specific etiologic agents in most forms of oral and dental infections. There may be at least 264 morphologic and biochemically distinct bacterial groups or species that colonize the oral and dental ecologic sites.1 In the gingival crevice, there are approximately 1.8 × 1011 anaerobes per gram.2 Most odontogenic infections result initially from the formation of dental plaque.3 Once pathogenic bacteria become established within the plaque, they can cause local and disseminated complications including bacterial endocarditis, infection of orthopedic or other prostheses, pleuropulmonary infection, cavernous sinus infection, septicemia, maxillary sinusitis, mediastinal infection, and brain abscess.
