Is a Dental Abscess an Emergency?
A tooth abscess can quite often become painful and become a serious dental emergency. An abscess is a pocket of pus creating bacterial infection that results in swelling and pain, demanding immediate attention. The infection can occur around the sensitive root of a tooth, or it can also happen between the gum and tooth.
A tooth abscess is usually caused by tooth decay or damage, which might be from a chipped, cracked, or broken tooth that has become infected, or also an untreated dental cavity. Untreated periodontal or gum disease can also result in an abscess forming. In serious situations, the growing infection from the tooth abscess will spread from the root of the tooth to your jawbone supporting the teeth, which can lead to tooth loss or even allow the infection to spread throughout your body.
Signs and Symptoms of Tooth Abscess
You need to have the tooth abscess treated as soon as possible to avoid any spread of infection. Some of the warning signs and symptoms of a tooth abscess include the following:
- A severe toothache, throbbing, aching, or sharp pain.
- Pain with or without biting and chewing.
- A fever.
- Swelling and redness of your gums.
- In an advanced infection, the swelling of your jaw.
- An increased sensitivity of your teeth to temperature change, hot or cold.
- An open, draining sore in your gums that causes a bitter taste in your mouth.
- Constant bad breath.
Is a Tooth Abscess Considered a Dental Emergency?
A tooth abscess is indeed a dental emergency. If you believe you might have a tooth abscess, you need to pursue treatment immediately. If left untreated, the abscess will lead to continued infection causing serious and life-threatening effects.
Treatment Options for a Tooth Abscess
The proper treatment for your abscess will be decided based on your specific needs, which may include the following treatments:
- Drain the Abscess- The most effective way to treat an abscess is to drain the infection immediately. A small incision into the abscess will allow drainage. Your dentist might also irrigate or wash the area of any further infection with saline. They will also remove any dead tissue that will not heal.
- Antibiotics- It may not be possible to drain the abscess. A dental infection might neutralize the effects of local anesthetics making it difficult to effectively numb the area for treatment. Infected lower molars are difficult to numb with a serious infection present. If this is the case, you will need to be placed on an antibiotic to reduce the infection, so then the anesthetics will be effective for comfortable treatment.
- Root Canal- A root canal is a procedure to remove the live nerves and blood vessels in the center of the tooth and root. In an infected tooth, a root canal will remove infected pulp and drain the abscess. When the infection is eliminated, the tooth is restored and protected with a crown to preserve the tooth.
- Tooth Extraction- If the infected tooth can no longer be saved, it will be extracted to also remove the abscess and then promote natural healing.