Predictors of systemic complications and prolonged hospitalization in odontogenic infections: a 12-year retrospective analysis of 997 cases

Age, COPD, chronic alcohol addiction, and multi-space involvement independently predict systemic complications in odontogenic infections. Multi-space involvement also identifies patients at risk for prolonged hospitalization. The increasing burden of odontogenic infections highlights the need for a clinical risk score to enable early risk stratification, guide triage, and improve interdisciplinary management while reducing treatment costs.