What is a Dental Abscess?

Anytime there is pain, swelling or infection present, it’s essential that a dentist be seen promptly. Warm saltwater rinses or over-the-counter pain relievers may provide temporary relief.

Dental abscesses develop when bacteria invade the gum tissues or teeth and become trapped beneath them, infecting both jawbone and other body areas. Without treatment, this infection can spread further afield.

Causes

Dental abscesses are painful and potentially life-threatening conditions caused by pus accumulation in an infected tooth, leading to pain, swelling and fever that spreads rapidly across other parts of the body if left untreated. A dental abscess should always be considered medical emergency and treated promptly; infections that spread to brain (endocarditis) or neck areas (periapical abscess) require urgent medical attention as soon as they appear.

Dental abscesses may result from dental decay or gum disease, an injury to the face or jaw, poor oral hygiene, smoking, diabetes, chronic sinus infection or any number of diseases which affect immunity.

An abscessed tooth may exhibit symptoms including pain (throbbing and continuous), tenderness, swelling in the jaw or cheek area, bad taste in mouth, difficulty opening mouth wide enough, raised lump on gum line that resides under it all and fever. Sometimes an abscess may not even be painful but still appear as a visible lump on the gumline.

An abscessed tooth won’t resolve itself on its own, but you may be able to alleviate its symptoms through draining pus, treating its source or taking antibiotics. For severe infections it may be wise to visit either an emergency department or have antibiotics such as fourth-generation cephalosporins or extended spectrum penicillins such as piperacillin-tazobactam prescribed – these antibiotics have activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms; carbapenems such as meropenem should only be prescribed for severe infections in immunocompromised patients.

An abscess is a serious dental health concern that should be treated by a dentist or endodontist immediately. Untreated dental abscesses can become painful and lead to life-threatening infections that spread quickly across your body. Scheduling regular appointments with your dental practitioner allows your practitioner to detect problems early when treatment will be easier to manage.

Symptoms

An abscessed tooth can be identified if you experience pain or a hard lump in your gum, difficulty chewing or swallowing food, pus collecting in your gum, fever or swollen lymph nodes; additionally you may also notice bad taste in mouth, difficulty breathing through nose or severe headaches.

If you have a dental abscess, treatment from either a dentist or endodontist is vital for a full recovery. Without professional assistance, the condition won’t resolve on its own and could potentially spread infection throughout your body, which could pose life-threatening threats.

An abscess in the dental is a collection of infected pus that has resulted from an infection to the pulp of a tooth, where blood vessels and nerves reside beneath its gum line. Above its gum line lies an enamel covering protecting this vulnerable pulp area.

Dental abscesses typically manifest themselves with jaw pain or hard lumps in the gum, difficulty chewing or swallowing, swollen lymph nodes in the neck or head and facial edema (swelling). Infected teeth often show discoloration or breaks in enamel that require repair work; either way periapical abscesses can form at the tip of their root while periodontal abscesses can appear nearer the tooth root or in bone adjacent to it.

Tooth abscesses can be excruciatingly painful, yet are usually harmless. To treat one quickly and safely, visit your dentist as soon as possible so the infection can be drained off; take over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen for relief; rinse your mouth out with warm salt water to ease symptoms if this doesn’t help.

Your dentist may use various strategies to drain an abscess by creating a small hole in the gum tissue and letting pus drain out, along with prescribing antibiotics to stop further spread of infection. In severe cases where abscess ruptures due to low immune system strength or ruptures completely, hospitalization may be required in order to receive intravenous lines with antibiotics administered through IV. Dental abscesses may also lead to an abscess cyst developing beneath infected tooth roots, creating serious health issues which necessitate removal through surgical intervention in order to drain and remove it properly.

Treatment

If you’re experiencing a persistent toothache or have seen a lump appear on your gums, an abscessed tooth could be responsible for it. Early treatment will reduce risk and give your tooth time to heal itself without complications arising later.

An abscess is a buildup of bacteria found in your mouth that is introduced through poor dental hygiene, injury or periodontitis (a gum disease infection that affects gums). Two major types are periapical and periodontal abscesses with symptoms including: throbbing pain in affected tooth; difficulty chewing/biting down/chewing down in general, bad taste in mouth, pus buildup, redness/swelling in jaw/face area as well as reddening/swelling on one side of face swollen sinuses plus gum tenderness.

Untreated abscessed tooth infections can quickly lead to serious and dangerous consequences. Bacteria could enter your bloodstream, potentially leading to life-threatening sepsis complications; additionally, infection could spread into your upper jawbone and sinuses for which they could cause maxillary sinusitis as well as osteomyelitis complications.

Treatment includes draining the abscess and filling or extracting an infected tooth to prevent future reinfection. A dentist will typically use a rubber drain to allow pus to drain out, followed by thorough sanitation of the area if necessary (in severe cases a general anaesthetic may also be necessary).

Anti-inflammatory medication like Ibuprofen, acetaminophen and diclofenac sodium may help alleviate discomfort associated with dental abscesses. An ice pack placed over your jaw and mouth may also provide temporary relief of symptoms. Peppermint tea also has natural analgesic properties which may provide comforting relief; crushed garlic has antibacterial properties which may help relieve inflammation when applied directly onto a tooth or gum via cotton buds or clove oil also has analgesic qualities; alternatively if water irrigation device (like syringe) water irrigation device can temporarily dislodge pus and alleviate discomfort temporarily until treatment can be obtained by seeing your dentist directly.

Prevention

An abscess can be avoided through daily brushing and flossing to clear away food debris from between teeth and by visiting the dentist regularly for checkups – during these appointments the dentist conducts a comprehensive review of your mouth to detect problems such as dental decay, gum disease or ulcerations before they develop into full-fledged abscesses.

An abscess in a dental abscess usually develops as the result of an infection caused by bacteria found in plaque, making its way inside to cause damage. Such infections are known as periodontal or gingival infections; while those caused by root canal infected teeth are called periapical infections.

Signs and symptoms of dental abscesses include pain, tenderness or bad taste in the mouth as well as swelling and reddening around the affected area, with swelling of gums around it and possible x-ray confirmation of its presence. If an abscess is suspected, an appointment must be scheduled with a dentist immediately, otherwise an urgent trip to an emergency department of a hospital or doctor must be made as they can provide painkillers as well as antibiotics to fight infection if necessary.

Dental abscesses require drainage by making an incision into the abscess and washing out with saline solution, then filling or extracting it so as to avoid further infection. People suffering periapical abscesses may require root canal therapy in addition to draining.

Leaving an abscessed tooth untreated can result in pus spreading to the floor of your mouth or neck and potentially blocking off airways to make breathing difficult. Furthermore, sepsis could develop over time; so it’s crucial that when experiencing these symptoms it be addressed as quickly as possible by visiting a dental professional.

People suffering from tooth abscesses should avoid hard to chew foods like apples, peaches and pears; instead drinking plenty of water is advised and antibiotics such as fourth generation cephalosporins like piperacillin/tazobactam or carbapenems such as meropenem are typically prescribed to control an infection.