A dental abscess, also known as an abscessed tooth or tooth abscess, occurs when a pocket of pus forms in or around an infected tooth root. Abscessed teeth can happen to anyone, but a history of gum disease, untreated cavities, and cracks in teeth can increase your risk of developing one. A dental abscess is typically very painful and cannot be resolved without treatment from a dentist.
Dental abscesses can’t wait for treatment. If you have tooth pain or other symptoms of a dental abscess, schedule an appointment at a Castle Dental office near you to get top-notch treatment for a dental abscess .
With multiple locations, flexible scheduling, same-day appointments, and emergency dental care available at many offices, we make it easy and convenient to get treatment for a dental abscess and relieve your pain.
Dental abscesses develop when a bacterial infection causes a pus pocket around the tooth’s root. The same type of bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay is behind these infections.
When this bacteria works its way into the inner tissues of the tooth root, known as the tooth pulp, the immune system sends white blood cells to the area to fight the bacteria. The white blood cells start to accumulate, forming a pocket of pus in the soft tissue.
This bacteria can become introduced to the tooth root in many ways and lead to an abscess. Three of the most common are:
The most obvious symptom of a dental abscess is severe tooth pain. This pain often feels sharp and piercing, but some patients experience more of a dull, persistent ache. The pain may be localized in a single tooth or it may feel like the entire side of your jaw is hurting. You may also notice the pain only occurs while lying down, making it difficult to sleep. The pain may sometimes seem to be in a different tooth than the affected tooth, which is called referred pain.
In addition to tooth pain, you may experience jaw swelling, gum soreness, and extreme sensitivity to hot and cold foods. You may even develop a mild fever.
If the abscess is close to the gum’s surface, you might notice what looks like a pimple on your gums. This pimple may rupture if you press against it with your tongue, releasing a smelly liquid.
A dental abscess won’t heal on its own. If left untreated, the infection can spread to neighboring teeth, your jawbone, or even your brain or blood tissue. A skilled Castle Dental dentist can quickly detect a dental abcess with dental X-rays, which only take a few minutes.
The sooner your dentist treats the abscess, the greater the chances of saving your tooth and avoiding more complicated problems.
The dental abscess treatment your dentist recommends will depend on the severity and location of the infection. If a condition like extensive tooth decay, a large cavity, or advanced gum disease contributed to the dental abscess formation, your dentist will also recommend treating them to prevent future abscesses from developing.
Some of the most common treatments for a dental abscess include:
If the abscess is minor and located near the surface of the gums, your dentist may drain the pus through a small incision in your gums. You’ll receive local anesthesia to numb the treatment area during this procedure. However, draining alone is not usually sufficient to treat an abscess. It relieves the pressure in your gums and can help ease your tooth pain, but it does not address the infected tissue inside your tooth. This is why gum draining will likely happen in conjunction with another treatment.
You’ll often need root canal treatment to remove the infected tissue inside the abscessed tooth and prevent recurrence. The dentist will numb your tooth and gums before the procedure so they can drill through the tooth to access the pulp and tooth roots.
The dentist then uses a special suction device or laser to remove the infected tooth pulp and fills the tooth roots and access hole with synthetic material. Finally, the dentist covers the tooth with a crown to prevent future cracks and damage.
If the tooth is too badly decayed or cracked, or if the infection is extensive, you may need a tooth extraction. You’ll receive local anesthesia, and the dentist will use tools called a dental elevator and forceps to remove the tooth from your jaw.
After the empty socket heals, you can replace the tooth with a bridge or dental implant, depending on your dentist’s recommendation.
Dentists often use antibiotics, such as amoxicillin and penicillin, in conjunction with one of the treatments above. They help your body fight off the bacteria that caused the abscess and also keep the infection from spreading to other teeth.
Your dentist at Castle Dental will typically prescribe you antibiotics for 7 to 10 days. It’s important to take them for the entire prescribed time, even if your dental pain goes away before you’ve completed the treatment.
A tooth abscess can be quite painful and may result in costly restorative procedures or even tooth loss, so it’s important to do all you can to prevent them.
Some of the best strategies to prevent a dental abscess are:
The costs to treat a tooth abscess vary widely based on the treatment your dentist recommends, which tooth is affected, and the severity of the infection. Your costs can also change if you need any additional dental work before or after the treatment.
If you have dental insurance, your plan will likely cover at least part of the cost to treat your dental abscess. However, depending on the insurance provider, you may have to pay out of pocket for an implant following extraction or for antibiotics if your dentist prescribes them.
Though the cost is not always certain, you should be proactive in treating a tooth abscess. Castle Dental also offers a variety of ways to help you afford to treat your dental abscess, including:
We at Castle Dental believe everyone deserves the quality dental care and treatment they need for a beautiful, healthy smile. That’s why we offer a wide range of services, including treatment for your dental abscess, that fit your budget and busy schedule. Plus, you can receive a wide range of dental services at a single convenient location.
To learn more about all the ways Castle Dental can help you protect your oral health, schedule an appointment at the office nearest you today.
Orthodontics may be provided by general dentists.
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