This investigation compared the hospital costs and time burdens of four methods for treatment of facial cellulitis secondary to primary tooth infection. A retrospective medical and dental chart review was completed for 41 male and 27 female children who presented to The Hospital for Sick Children with facial cellulitis from 2005 to 2008. Children with severe infection for whom admission was indicated were treated by one of three inpatient methods. Children with less severe infection were treated as outpatients. Primary first molars were the most frequent source of infection. Forty-one per cent of teeth had existing restorations. Children who did not require admission had a shorter length of stay (LOS) and lower hospital costs than admitted patients (p<0.01). Children admitted to an inpatient ward had a longer LOS in hospital than the two other inpatient methods (p<0.01). No differences in hospital costs were demonstrated among inpatient methods.
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