Dental abscess

What is a dental abscess?

A dental abscess or dentoalveolar abscess is a condition caused by the spread of plaque buildup within the soft tissue of the teeth or gums. It is more dangerous than most of us realize, especially when people ignore the symptoms in the early stages or are not careful about proper oral hygiene.
An abscessed tooth is a painful and life-threatening condition.
To better understand abscess and how it can be treated, let’s take a closer look at this dental condition.

What causes an abscessed tooth?

To put it as simply as possible, a dental abscess is the accumulation of pus inside the teeth or gums. It usually has its origin in a bacterial infection that has manifested itself in the soft pulp of a tooth. The main cause of this dental condition is severe tooth decay, but it can also be caused by previous dental work or trauma resulting in a chipped or broken tooth.

Types of dental abscesses.

The various types of tooth abscess include:

• Gingival abscess, which occurs in the gums and does not affect the tooth or its connective tissue fibers.
• Periodontal abscess, which begins in the supporting bone tissue structures of the teeth.
• Periaphic abscess, which begins in the soft pulp of the tooth.

What are the symptoms of the condition?

The main symptom of tooth abscess is a persistent, sharp, throbbing or stabbing pain, which occurs in a variety of degrees. In most cases, the discomfort begins suddenly and becomes more intense and unbearable over time. In case of a severe abscess, the pain can spread from the affected area to the ears, neck and jaw.

Some other symptoms of an abscessed tooth include:

• Fever
• Difficulty swallowing
• Discomfort caused by lack of sleep.
• Difficulty opening the mouth
• Pain in the affected area when biting and chewing
• Smelly breath
• Sensitivity to hot and cold foods/drinks
•  Bitter taste in the mouth
• Swelling in the glands of the neck, upper or lower jaw
• General feeling of discomfort
• Red and swollen gums

How is dental abscess diagnosed?

A dental abscess can be diagnosed by a dentist using a dental instrument or by taking an x-ray of the mouth. The x-ray looks for erosion of the bone around the abscess while the dental instrument explores the affected area for pain and tenderness. The diagnosis must be made by a qualified dental expert.

Treatment for dental abscess.

Treatment of an abscessed tooth aims to treat the infection, preserve the tooth, and prevent future dental complications. Your dentist may suggest various treatment options, depending on the severity of the condition. These include:

• Incision: This option includes cutting out the abscess and draining the pus, which contains bacteria, allowing healthy tissue to replace previously infected parts of the gum.
• Surgery: In the case of a recurring infection, surgery may be performed to remove diseased tissue or reshape damaged gum tissue. The surgical procedure depends on the extent and area of ​​the bacterial infection.
• Analgesics: These are used to reduce pain while the patient waits for treatment or to help control pain during the healing process. Pain relievers should only be taken when prescribed by a dentist.
  Antibiotics – To prevent the infection from spreading, dentists may prescribe antibiotics, which can be taken along with pain relievers. These will normally be prescribed both before and after the main procedure (incision/surgery).
• Forecast: The prognosis of dental abscess depends on how deep the dental infection has spread. If the infection is localized to the tooth, and is detected and treated early, the prognosis is usually very good and the patient does not suffer irreparable damage.

However, if the infection is not treated, it can penetrate the jaw bone, parts of the head or neck, and even the entire body, resulting in a situation that is difficult to control. In the worst cases, abscessed teeth can become a life-threatening condition when swelling in the jaws and neck affects the airways.

Prevention is better than cure!

The best way to prevent an abscessed tooth is to ensure good dental hygiene through proper daily brushing and flossing. Both of these oral hygiene practices are extremely important as they help to remove plaque, thus ensuring that it does not build up on the teeth or gums.

Regular dental checkups can also help prevent abscess by ensuring that tooth decay is discovered early.
Timely diagnosis can prevent a small cavity from turning into an abscessed tooth one day, so schedule your checkup at SermaDent as soon as possible!