What is an abscessed tooth?
If you have a pocket of pus developed from a bacterial infection, it’s an abscess. An abscess affects your tooth, the surrounding bone, and, sometimes, your nearby teeth.
What are the types of tooth abscesses?
Tooth abscesses come from three types of infections:
Gingival
A gingival abscess develops due to an infection of your gums. It usually stays isolated to the soft tissue and doesn’t affect your tooth or any supporting bone.
Periapical
A periapical abscess develops due to infection at the tip of the root. Bacteria spread to the inside of your tooth due to a fracture or cavity. The infection can spread to your bone, leading to an abscess.
Periodontal
A periodontal infection starts in the bone and tissues that support your tooth. Usually, this abscess is due to gum disease.
Am I at risk of getting an abscessed tooth?
An infection is more likely in people who:
- Smoke
- Have dry mouth
- Experience weakened immunity
- Maintain poor dental hygiene
- Have severe tooth decay
- Experience a tooth chip or crack or another tooth injury
- Have gum disease
Without treatment, the infection turns into a painful, uncomfortable abscess.
What are the symptoms that accompany an abscessed tooth?
If you have an abscess, you’ll notice symptoms like:
- Throbbing, sharp, shooting, and pulsing pain
- Pain while chewing
- Pain that radiates to your jawbone and ear
- Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages
- Foul breath and a bitter taste in your mouth
- Gum redness and swelling
Depending on how long the infection has persisted, you may also have systemic symptoms like fever, swollen glands, and a feeling of illness.
How do you treat an abscessed tooth?
The goals of treatment for a tooth abscess are to alleviate immediate pain and get to the root cause of your infection.
The doctors may drain your abscess to reduce swelling and pressure. If you have infected pulp, he may recommend an emergency root canal. If your tooth is too decayed or infected to be saved, extraction may be necessary.
They also prescribes antibiotics to fight off the infection. Antibiotics aren’t a cure for a decayed tooth but can help with systemic symptoms.
If you have a tooth abscess, contact the Midtown West office of Compassionate Endodontics New York/NYC today by phone, or use this website to schedule an immediate visit online.
