Focal infection: historical perspective intertwined with realistic contemporary thought

Historically the idea of possible links between dental infections and systemic diseases, as expressed by the medical profession, impacted clinical dentistry and millions of patients well over 100 years ago. However, a small core of dental professionals strove to retain teeth by scientifically refuting the concepts of focal infection and elective localisation; and slowly the conflagrations of these theories began to be reduced to but a few smoking embers. However, over the years these embers have continued to smoulder, and this once-thought-dead controversy has been revived, fanned by the winds of questionable science, charlatanism and the use of social media platforms to misinform both the profession and the public. This presentation will highlight a brief history of this dilemma, along with current thought from a realistic perspective. Keywords: dental infection, focal infection, social media, systemic disease and infection