A dental abscess is a dental problem that does not have obvious symptoms. While some symptoms like extreme pain, sensitivity when chewing, bad breath or even bad taste in the mouth are symptoms of other dental issues, they can also be symptoms of dental abscess.
Dental abscess is a condition that causes bacteria to create a pocket of pus building up around the tooth. Having a dental abscess can cause you to have many worries and make a lot of questions go through your mind. Besides wondering about the likely causes of a tooth abscess, other things that can make you worried when you have a dental abscess include;
- The severity of the abscessed tooth
- Would it require immediate treatment?
- Will it cause sepsis?
- Is it a dental emergency? Etc
How is a tooth abscess formed?
The risk of getting a tooth abscess increases with an untreated cavity. When the cavity is not treated, harmful oral bacteria can invade and cause more damage to the tooth until the decay gets to the nerves and blood vessels in the inner chamber. When this happens, the pulp canal system becomes infected and will ultimately spread to the tip of the tooth root in the jawbone. This causes pain, of course, as well as swelling and redness of the gums. Besides this, tooth abscess causes include gum disease, fractured tooth, severe tooth decay, and problems with existing tooth canal.
Types of abscessed teeth
There are three different types of abscessed teeth, and these types depend on their location and causes. The types include the following:
Gingival abscess: This type of abscess is located in the gums, and they are caused when a foreign material gets lodged or embedded in the gums.
Periapical abscess: This type of abscess is found at the tip of the tooth root – it occurs when the bacteria get into the pulp through a cavity. The pulp is a soft, inner part of the teeth comprised of nerves, connective tissues and blood vessels.
Periodontal abscess: This type of abscess develops on the gum next to the tooth root. Gum disease or gum injury most often causes it. Nonetheless, it can spread to the surrounding bone and tissue.
Dangers associated with an untreated dental abscess
Unlike most infections of other parts of the body like the hands and the legs, dental abscess does not go away or heal without treatment. When you do not get treated on time, it can make the pain worse and increase the sensitivity, swelling and redness of gums. The use of antibiotics can correct the symptoms of dental abscess as well as the infection. Sadly, however, when you choose to ignore a dental abscess, it could result in minor to severe health conditions like the following;
Infection of surrounding bone: Untreated long term infection can have a devastating effect on the facial bone, particularly the maxilla and the mandible. When these jawbones are infected, they would have to be removed surgically to prevent the infection’s spread. Even without surgical treatment intervention, the jawbones could still be weakened, thereby making it impossible for the jaws to support the teeth.
Brain infection: When the infection is not treated, it can enter the brain. When this happens, the patient may have to be hospitalised. Sadly, it can be difficult to treat because of the blood-brain barrier.
Oral soft tissues and sinus infection: The upper teeth roots extend to the sinus area, and an untreated dental abscess can trigger a sinus infection which can be undoubtedly painful. Further complications like facial cellulite and airway problems can arise when the infection spreads to the surrounding areas.
Tooth loss: If the dental abscess is not diagnosed and treated on time, the infected tooth can be lost. Besides tooth loss, the infection can also affect the surrounding bone, which will affect treatments like dental implants.
Septicaemia: This is a life-threatening complication of untreated tooth abscess. At this point, the infection spreads to the entire body. This happens when a pocket of pus ruptures, spills into the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body. It would require hospitalisation and intravenous antibiotics to control the infection.
Treatment and prevention of tooth abscess
Having known the dangers of ignoring dental abscess, it is important to immediately take note of the symptoms and commence treatment of tooth abscess. Treating an abscessed tooth involves clearing up the infection and relieving the pain. A dental health professional should do this, and the location of the abscess would have to be determined through an X-ray examination. The various treatment options for dental abscess include;
Abscess drain: Here, a small cut is made in the abscess to drain, and the infected area is cleaned with a saline solution.
Root canal procedure: This method involves draining the abscess by drilling the affected tooth to remove the infected pulp, after which it is filled and sealed. A dental crown is placed on the cavity, and it is also made to strengthen the tooth.
Antibiotics: Your dentist can often prescribe oral antibiotics if you have a weak immune system. This is to prevent the infection from spreading to other areas.
Tooth extraction: This becomes an option if the tooth has become severely damaged. When the affected tooth has been removed, the dentist will have to drain the abscess.
Prevention of tooth abscess involves good oral hygiene, such as brushing twice daily and flossing regularly. Also, regular dental visits every six months is important for good and healthy teeth. When your tooth abscess has been treated, you should visit your dentist for follow-up checkups.
You can visit at www.emergencydentist.london/ to book an appointment online for tooth abscess treatment.
I am a professional blogger. I like to write different blogs and articles on health related topics on regular basis.
