Clinical features of odontogenic orofacial and peripharyngeal "space" infections

Space infections	Usual site of origin	Clinical features
Space infections	Usual site of origin	Pain	Trismus	Swelling	Dysphagia	Dyspnea
Masticator
Masseteric and pterygoid	Molars (especially 3rd)	+	+++	May not be evident (deep)	-	-
Temporal	Post. maxillary molars	+	-	Face, orbit (late)	-	-
Buccal	Bicuspids, molars	±	±	Cheek (marked)	-	-
Canine	Maxillary canines, incisors	++	-	Upper lip, canine fossa	-	-
Infratemporal	Post. maxillary molars	+	++	Face, orbit (late)	±	±
Submental	Mandibular incisors	++	-	Chin (firm)	-	-
Submandibular	Masseteric spaces	+++	-	Angle of jaw (marked)	-	-
Sublingual	2nd, 3rd mandibular molars	+	±	Submandibular (brawny)	-	-
Lateral pharyngeal
Anterior	Mandibular incisors	+	±	Floor of mouth (tender)	+ (if bilateral)	+ (if bilateral)
Posterior	Masticator spaces	+++	+++	Angle of jaw	+	±
Retropharyngeal (and "danger")	Masticator spaces	±	±	Post. pharynx	+	+++
Retropharyngeal (and "danger")	Lateral pharyngeal space, distant via lymphatics	+	±	Post. pharynx (midline)	+	+
Pretracheal	Retropharyngeal space, anterior esophagus	+	-	Hypopharynx	+	+++

±: minimal or occasional; +: present; ++: moderate; +++: prominent or severe.

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