Posted by In an abscessed tooth, there is a collection of pus in the surrounding tissues that has caused the infection. Germs will start to grow in the dead tissue left behind after a tooth’s pulp dies from damage or decay.
An abscessed tooth can also be caused by gum disease. A gum disease causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, leaving pockets behind. The germs can spread outside of the pockets when the pockets become blocked, or they can return up. When this occurs, an abscess is formed beneath the gum line and becomes infected, causing swelling.
Even if you get relief from your pain, the infection will get worse – and the pain will always return. The more bone that has actually dissolved, the less support the tooth has, therefore it will end up being loose and have to be extracted.
An abscessed tooth is easily identifiable because it contains serious signs such as severe pain in the affected area, swollen, red gums, bad breath, swelling in the area, and potentially a high fever. Abscesses usually cause excruciating pain, affecting the location in an adverse way.
Although they can affect the front or back teeth, abscesses tend to occur more often with back teeth. Your dental professional will not pull your abscessed tooth immediately after it has become infected. It is possible to spread an infection rapidly if a tooth that has abscessed is extracted with the infection still present. In order to damage the bacteria, your dentist will likely suggest prescription antibiotics.
There are several ways to remove dead tissue from a tooth. A dentist may perform a root canal in order to remove that decayed tissue. Last but not least, he can drill a hole in the tooth to give the infection an opportunity to drain and remove the dead pulp. An abscessed tooth is usually treated with antibiotics to kill the infection, then the tooth is removed. Abscesses can destroy your jawbone if you let them get that bad.
One way to make sure abscesses do not occur is to visit your dentist at least twice a year for routine check-ups, and cleanings. Many health insurances today offer a dental insurance component. Find out what that plan offers, and utilize it to schedule your dental visits. If you have no access to insurance, find a local dental college, where there are usually centers with dental students. Eager to learn their craft with willing participants.
