Do You Need Emergency Treatment For A Tooth Abscess?
Do have constant and consistent toothache? You may have a dental abscess that needs to be treated urgently in order to resolve the discomfort and complications that can result.
What Is An Abscess?
An abscess is a bacterial infection that results in pus forming in a pocket and can affect just about any area of the tooth although it commonly occurs:
- near the tip of root of the tooth (Periapical Abscess)
- on the gum (Gingival Abscess)
- on the gum near the root (Periodontal Abscess).
How Do You Know That You Have An Abscess?
Common symptoms of a dental abscess may include:
- Moderate to severe pain that may radiate to the neck and the ear and is aggravated when chewing.
- Fever from the infection.
- Swollen glands or lymph nodes.
- Swollen, red and sensitive gums.
- A bad taste in your mouth or bad breath.
If you have one or more of these symptoms, it is more than likely that you have a dental abscess and you need to call us today to set up an appointment with a dentist.
How Is An Abscess Treated?
Our dental services offer a range of different treatments for a dental abscess depending on the cause of the infection and severity:
- Draining the abscess involves making a small incision in the abscess to allow the pus to drain out and then cleaning and disinfecting the area.
- A root canal for the treatment of periapical abscess involves drilling a small hole into the tooth to remove the pus and infected pulp of the tooth. The pulp chamber and root canal are then disinfected, refilled and sealed. A crown will be placed on the tooth to strengthen it.
- An abscess mat be caused by a foreign object lodged in the gum or the tooth (like food particles) which causes the infection. Removing the object and disinfecting the area will clear up the infection.
In all of the above cases, the dentist will prescribe a course of antibiotics to kill the bacteria causing the infection. For a less severe abscess, treatment with antibiotics alone may be sufficient to resolve the infection entirely.
Why Is It Critical To Treat An Abscess?
Leaving an abscess untreated can allow the infection to spread and result in sepsis or other complications that will affect your overall health and may be life threatening.
Call Us Today For Immediate Abscess Dental Care
If you are experiencing any of the above mentioned symptoms, give us a call to make an appointment with an emergency dentist as soon as possible to treat an abscess. We understand the urgency of the matter and will treat your call as an emergency if necessary.