Is a Dental Abscess an Emergency?
A tooth abscess is quite often a painful and serious dental emergency. An abscess is a pocket of pus producing bacterial infection that causes swelling and pain, needing immediate attention. The infection occurs in or around the sensitive root of a tooth or it can also occur between the gum and tooth.
A tooth abscess is usually caused by advanced tooth decay or damage, which can be from a chipped or broken tooth that has become infected, or an untreated dental cavity. Untreated periodontal or gum disease can also cause an abscess. In serious cases, the infection from the tooth abscess can spread from the root of the tooth to the jawbone supporting the teeth, which will lead to tooth loss or allow the infection to spread throughout your body.
Signs and Symptoms of Tooth Abscess
You need to seek treatment for a tooth abscess as soon as possible to avoid the spread of infection. Some of the warning signs off a tooth abscess include the following:
* A severe toothache, aching, and throbbing or sharp pain.
* Pain with or without chewing.
* A fever.
* Redness and swelling of your gums.
* In advanced infections, the swelling of your jaw.
* Increased sensitivity of your teeth to temperature change, hot or cold.
* An open, draining sore in your gums that can cause a bitter taste in your mouth.
* Bad breath.
Is a Tooth Abscess Considered a Dental Emergency?
A tooth abscess is absolutely a dental emergency. If you think you have a tooth abscess, you need to seek treatment immediately. If left untreated, the abscess can lead to infection that will spread through your body causing serious and life-threatening effects.
Treatment Options for a Tooth Abscess
The proper treatment for your abscess will be chosen for your specific needs, which might include the following treatments:
* Drain the Abscess- The most effective way to treat an abscess is to drain off the infection. A small incision into the abscess will allow the pus drain. Your dentist may also irrigate or wash the area of infection with saline. They will also remove any dead or necrotic tissue that will never heal.
* Antibiotics- It is not always possible to drain the abscess. A serious dental infection can neutralize the effects of local anesthetics making it difficult to numb the area for treatment. Infected lower molars are difficult to numb in the presence of a serious infection. In this case, you will need to be placed on an appropriate antibiotic to reduce the infection, so the anesthetics will be effective for comfortable treatment.
* Root Canal- A root canal is a procedure to remove the nerves and blood vessels in the center of the tooth root. In an infected tooth, a root canal will remove the infection and drain the abscess. When the infection is eliminated, the tooth is restored with a crown to preserve the tooth.
* Tooth Extraction- If the infected tooth cannot be saved, it will be extracted to drain the abscess and promote natural healing.