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Abscess
What is an abscessed tooth?
Dental infections are usually caused by bacteria normally present in the mouth in controlled
numbers. When those bacteria get out of control, a bacterial infection can cause a collection
of pus near a tooth, or a dental abscess. A dental abscess is more common in individuals with
periodontal disease.
What are the symptoms of an abscessed tooth?
Symptoms of a dental abscess may include a severe and continuous toothache that results in
gnawing or throbbing pain or sharp or shooting pain. The pain can be worse with chewing or
exposure to cold. Other symptoms include red or swollen areas of upper or lower jaw, pus in
the gum line, bitter taste or bad breath in the mouth and loose teeth. Symptoms of a
worsening dental abscess could include fever, swollen neck glands, facial pain
and tenderness.
If the root of the tooth dies as a result of infection, the toothache may stop. However,
this doesn’t mean the infection has healed; the infection remains active and continues
to spread and destroy tissue. Therefore, if you experience any of the symptoms listed above,
it is important to see a dentist even if the pain subsides.
How is an abscessed tooth diagnosed?
Your dentist may suspect an abscessed tooth because your gums may be swollen and red. Your
dentist will probe your teeth with a dental instrument. If you have an abscessed tooth, you
will feel pain when the tooth is tapped by your dentist’s probe. Your dentist will also
ask you if your pain increases when you bite down or when you close your mouth tightly. X-rays
will be taken to look for erosion of the bone around the abscess.
How is an abscessed tooth treated by your office?
Treatment for a dental abscess may include warm compresses to the face, antibiotics, warm
saltwater gargles, tooth extraction and surgery to drain the abscess to eliminate the
infection.
Your dentist may give you a prescription for antibiotics and painkillers. These drugs will
help the abscess heal and keep infection from spreading.
Most gum abscesses will heal quickly after three things happen:
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The area is cleaned thoroughly
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The trapped pus is allowed to escape
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The infection is treated
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Can an abscess by prevented?
The most effective way to prevent an abscess is to follow good oral hygiene practices.
Also, if your teeth experience trauma (for example, become chipped or loosened), seek prompt
dental attention. When the inside of your mouth gets injured or irritated, bacteria may enter
and cause an infection.
Are there different types of abscesses?
Yes; a gum abscess and a tooth abscess.
A gum abscess (also called a periodontal abscess) usually is caused by an infection in the
space between the tooth and gum. The infection may occur after food gets trapped between the
gum and tooth. In people with severe periodontal disease, bacteria can build up under the gum
and in the bone.
A tooth-related abscess (also called a periapical abscess) occurs inside the tooth. This
happens when the tooth’s nerve is dead or dying. This type of abscess shows up at the
tip of the tooth’s root and spreads to the surrounding bone.
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