Dental Emergency | Dental Abscess

DENTAL EMERGENCY: DENTAL ABSCESS

What are the reasons for Getting a Tooth Abscess?

• Gum inflammation – infections from inflamed gums can results in the formation of a dental abscess.
• Teeth Cavities – when there is a large cavity in a tooth, there are high chances that the underlying pulp becomes exposed to the environment and ultimately becomes inflamed. If this situation is not corrected timely, it can lead to formation of a dental abscess.

What are the Common Symptoms of a Dental Abscess?

• Severe pain which is not relieved with painkillers
• A swollen face due to the underlying swelling
• Inflamed gum tissue which appears red and bleeds on touching
• Pus exudation from the area of infection

Why Does a Dental Abscess Form?

A dental abscess basically refers to the accumulation of pus around a tooth, gum or the bone in which our teeth are embedded. Dental abscesses are formed when the harmful toxins released from the bacteria inside the oral cavity are able to penetrate the pulp tissue inside the teeth, or the gums. Abscesses can form very quick, most of the time they form 1-2 days from the date infection starts.

Dental Abscess due to Gum Inflammation : this is known as a periodontal abscess. It all starts with the accumulation of food particles on the teeth in the form of plaque and tartar. When regular oral hygiene measures are ignored, these plaque and tartar deposits provide an excellent breeding environment for the bacteria, which release harmful products during the process. These toxins damage the gum tissue, and creating “pockets” between the gums teeth. This situation further promotes food accumulation and a vicious cycle is initiated. If this condition is controlled timely through regular brushing professional teeth cleaning,  everything comes back to normal. However, if no treatment is sought, the infection travels to the bone which is supporting the teeth and results in the formation of an abscess. A periodontal abscess is an extremely painful condition.

Dental Abscess due to an Infection in the Tooth : also known as a periapical abscess, this type of dental abscess forms when the toxins released from harmful bacteria are able to reach the nervous tissue of the tooth – the pulp. This mostly happens when there is a large, long-standing cavity in a tooth. With the passage of time, the underlying pulp becomes exposed and gets inflamed. Due to this inflammation, pressure builds up around the tooth which cause severe pain. When this happens, the only option available to save the tooth is to perform a root canal.

Whatever the type, dental abscesses can develop very quickly, and when they do, they constitute a full-blown dental emergency.  If tooth abscess is left untreated, it will damage surrounding structures such as bone and teeth in the infected area. The buildup of pressure causes the pain of an abscess, you will need your Dentist to drain your abscess to reduce the pressure.

In addition, If you have condition due to which you have a compromised immune system, or you’re sick or elderly, here are high chances that the abscess will spread into other parts of your body and cause serious, even life-threatening medical problems.

What to do until you can get to your dentist’s office:

-Rinse with warm salt water around the area of abscess. This will help in reducing the inflammation.

-Take an over the counter pain reliever such as Tylenol

Visit your Dentist Immediately

When you visit us for an emergency treatment, we will:

-Make x-ray images of the affected tooth

-Also perform other diagnostic tests to ascertain the cause of your problem

-Prepare an in-depth treatment plan for you to treat the issue

Treatment:

Treatment of dental abscess involves removal of the underlying cause:

1) Gum Tissue Infection: in case of a periodontal abscess, we will perform deep cleaning which involves scaling and root planning. We will remove the tartar from the teeth and polish them afterward to minimize future attachment of plaque.

2) Tooth Infection: for a peri-apical abscess, Root Canal Therapy is usually required to save the tooth from extraction. Afterward, we will restore the tooth and strengthen it by placing a crown over it.

3) In case our dentists feel that the affected tooth cannot be saved, it will be extracted. After the healing has taken place, we will replace the missing tooth with an artificial tooth.

4) Antibiotics and pain relieving medications are also prescribed for treating an abscess.

Dental abscess can play havoc with your teeth and dental health. But they can be easily avoided by a few simple steps. First, take good care of your oral hygiene through brushing and flossing. Second, visit us regularly for checkups so that we can diagnose and treat your problems before they cause any trouble!

LOCATIONS

Get out of pain today. Our Emergency Dental Care centers are located in two locations, one in Uptown/Galleria and one in Midtown area of Houston. Our doctors have gone through advanced training at Level 1 Trauma Emergency Hospitals and are on standby to get you the pain relief that you deserve.