If you are experiencing a severe toothache that is becoming unbearable, it could be a sign of something more serious, such as a tooth abscess. Painful infections, such as tooth abscess, can cause severe complications if not treated promptly. That’s where emergency dental care comes in.
In this blog, we will learn what tooth abscess are and what you can expect during your visit to emergency dental care. So let’s get started.
What Are Tooth Abscess?
An abscessed tooth, also known as a dental abscess, is a pocket of pus that is caused by a bacterial tooth infection. It occurs when the roots of the tooth are exposed, such as in cases of deep tooth decay, tooth cracks, or gum disease.Â
There are two main types of abscess:
Periapical Abscess: It typically occurs at the tip of the tooth root due to untreated cavities that have been present for an extended period.
Periodontal Abscess: This type occurs in the gums adjacent to the tooth, primarily due to advanced periodontal diseases.
Tooth abscess often begin with minor symptoms that are left untreated for an extended period. Recognizing the symptoms at an early stage and seeking emergency dental care from Emergency Dentist Houston can help you address the problem and avoid any oral health issues.
Here are some of the common symptoms of tooth abscesses that will help you identify them at an early stage:
- Swollen or red gums
- Intense pain
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Bad taste, or order in the mouth
If you see any of these symptoms, book a call with us today to see if there’s anything serious.
Why Is A Severe Toothache A Dental Emergency?
If not treated on time, tooth abscess can spread to other parts of your mouth and can cause life-threatening conditions such as sepsis.Â
Professional dental care is well capable of:
- Provide pain relief
- Control infection
- Perform root canal
- Extraction in severe cases
- Drain the abscess
Patients experiencing unbearable pain should visit our downtown Houston emergency dentist.Â
What To Expect During A Visit To An Emergency Dental Near Me?
If you become anxious during your dental visit, knowing what to expect can help ease your anxiety and prepare you for tooth abscess treatment.
Initial Examination And Diagnosis
At our Emergency Dentist Houston clinic, the dentist will start examining and reviewing your symptoms. Additionally, they will:
- Tap on your teeth to check whether a tooth that has an abscess is sensitive to touch or pressure.
- Recommend an X-ray, as this will help them to identify abscesses. This will also help them to determine whether the infection has spread and is causing abscesses in other areas.
- Recommend a computerized tomography (CT) scan. A CT scan will help determine the severity of the infection and whether it has spread to other areas.
Treatment
Depending on the severity of tooth abscesses, our downtown Houston emergency dentist may:
- Make a small cut into the abscess and drain out all the pus from the pus pocket. Then they will wash the area with lukewarm salt water. Additionally, they can place rubber drains to keep the area open for drainage while the swelling goes down.
- Another treatment for a tooth abscess is to do a root canal. Root canals can help you eliminate the infection and save your teeth at the same time.Â
- Our professional emergency dental care will examine your tooth carefully. If the infected tooth cannot be saved, they will remove the tooth and drain the pus to eliminate the infection.Â
- If the infection is not severe, our downtown Houston emergency dentist may prescribe antibiotics to prevent it from spreading further. These antibiotics will help prevent tooth infections and strengthen your immune system.
Follow Up
After the treatment, you’ll receive instructions for home care and possibly a follow-up appointment, check-up, and additional work.Â
Don’t wait for the abscesses to get worse; schedule your visit today.
Conclusion
Tooth abscesses are a medical emergency that requires immediate attention from an emergency dental care specialist. Ignoring the early symptoms can lead to serious complications, and infection can spread to other parts of your body. However, visiting emergency dental care can provide you with fast and effective relief when you need it most.
Whether you are in downtown Houston, Tanglewood, or searching for emergency dental near me, Emergency Dentist Houston can save your teeth and protect your health. Don’t wait – get in touch with us and receive the urgent help you need today.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does an emergency dentist do for a tooth abscess?
An emergency dentist will drain the pus from the roots of your teeth, which will reduce the swollen gum and provide you with relief from the pain.
2. What to expect after tooth abscess treatment?
The healing process depends on the method of treatment for a tooth abscess. It is essential to maintain a clean mouth and take good care of your oral health.Â
3. For how long can a tooth abscess go untreated?
If a tooth abscesses and is treated for weeks or months, it will eventually start spreading to the surrounding tissues and cause damage to your oral health. It is not possible to tell for how long a tooth abscess can go untreated.
4. Is a tooth abscess an emergency?
Yes, a tooth abscess is an emergency and requires emergency dental care. If not treated promptly, it can spread to surrounding tissues and cause pain, as well as severe damage to your oral health.
5. How to tell that an abscess is healing?
When an abscess is healing, your pain and swelling will decrease, drainage will stop, and the surrounding tissue will return to its color and appearance.