Odontogenic Necrotizing Fasciitis of Submandibular Region

Inadequate treatment and neglect of odontogenic infections can have serious consequences and leads to necrotizing fasciitis in the orofacial region. It's potential to spread through facial plane; intracranial region can compromise airway and cavernous sinus thrombosis respectively. On rare occasions this become rapidly progressing and causes massive destruction of muscles, overlying fascia and soft tissues involvement. Reconstruction of the soft tissue is difficult especially in immune compromised patients. It is very rare in orofacial region and is usually causes by multimicrobial odontogenic infection in the form of a dental caries or a periodontal abscess, if untreated, toxins produced by the microorganism lead to systemic toxicity and sometimes resulting in death. Present case report unfolds the classical features of necrotizing facitis with treatment alternatives for the successful resolution of lesion. This paper reminds us that cervico facial necrotizing fasciitis, remains one of the potential complications of long standing odontogenic infections in patients not only in immune compromised but also in normal patients. Prompt diagnosis, proper medicament, daily debridement and dressing may bring in a prompt control and save the life.