ABSTRACT
Aim: To evaluate medical records from patients who underwent abscess drainage due to odontogenic infections in a public hospital in the city of Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais, Brazil) during the period of 2003 and 2013. Methods: A retrospective analysis of cases which required drainage of abscesses due to dental infections. The types of therapeutic procedures analyzed were endodontic drainage, intraoral mucosa drainage, periodontal drainage, and extraoral drainage. Results: 162,902 cases required dental assistance, and 32,352 cases required drainage of abscesses due to dental infections. The most frequent approach was endodontic drainage (21,313 procedures); the least frequent procedure was extraoral drainage (922 procedures). Conclusions: Odontogenic infection is a common clinical condition in dental clinics. It should be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible to avoid or minimize progression to more severe cases. (AU)