Dental Abscess

A dental abscess is a severe inflammation as a response to bacterial infection. The condition starts with a cracked tooth, tooth infection, or trauma. A dental abscess problem is detrimental to your oral health due to bad breath and persistent pain that the patient has to endure. For this reason, you should seek medical attention immediately at The Hawthorne Dentist and get relief from the continuous pain. We have specialists who deal with dental abscess according to your situation. The dentist will start by opening up the abscess and drain the pus accumulated, and depending on your condition — you can be subjected to crown cementation. Since a dental emergency is an unplanned occurrence, you do not have to wait long for an appointment. We are at your service 24/7, 365 days a year.

Overview of Dental Abscess

A dental abscess is an irritable swelling caused by a buildup of pus (thick yellowish fluid) in the tooth, gum, or jawbone and sometimes referred to as an abscessed tooth. It looks like swelling or a bump in the root region. The responsible bacteria that cause an abscess live in a plague, that has food particles leftovers combined with saliva. The decay is from food remnants, saliva, and mouth bacteria, which sticks to the teeth and damages both teeth and gums. The plague should be removed regularly by flossing and brushing to avoid bacteria accumulation, which eventually results in an abscess.

This condition is rare in infants simply because abscesses form on erupted teeth. The infections are very common to those who have poor oral hygiene and to those with no timely and proper oral care. Below are facts of dental abscess overview:

•  Inflamed tissues are very painful when combined with a dental abscess. For instance, a cavity bacteria spreads in the gums, under the tongue, throat, and cheeks making it difficult even to make a facial expression.
•  The yellowish fluid is known as pus accumulates at the infection area, and the soreness progresses until it ruptures on its own or is surgically drained.
•  Generally, dental abscesses can be life-threatening, especially when the infection progresses to a point where the inflammation endangers to block the respiratory system.

Symptoms of Dental Abscess

Dental abscesses show symptoms of an ache in the tooth that usually gets worse over time and swelling of the gums. One may also feel pain while chewing or swallowing. The discomfort may advance to the ear, jawbone, and neck. Despite that, some other signs and symptoms include:

•   Halitosis(bad breath) or a nasty taste in your mouth.
•   Throbbing pain in the tooth or gum.
•   Swelling on the cheek and lymph nodes on the jaw.
•   Red, shiny, swollen gums.
•   Teeth sensitivity to hot or cold drinks.
•   A discolored, tender or loose tooth.
•   Intense pain that disrupts your sleep while lying down.
•   Very high temperatures (fever).
•   Difficulty in opening the mouth.

Sometimes, the dental abscess may not be painful at all because it might have lost vitality. However, the ulcer is still there and could be spreading bacteria further without your knowledge. Hence, the patient needs to have an often oral checkup. The radio-graphic X-ray exam done during an oral checkup routine may give results of any abscessed dental present.

Types of Dental Abscess

Various dental abscesses are named depending on the location. The three most common types are:

1. Periodontal Abscess (Gum Abscess)

The periodontal abscess is mostly found in the gum next to the root of a tooth. It may also spread to the bone and the surrounding tissues. It occurs due to food accumulation and tartar in between teeth and gums that cause unhealthy gums.

The food accumulation shrinks the gum line resulting in gum infection inwards. The disease forms an abscess near the gum or deep inside the periodontal tissues. This type of abscess may also be formed as a result of external trauma to the gums like accidental falls, poking with a toothpick, or an instrument. Diabetic patients are more prone to periodontal abscess than any other medical condition.

2. Gingival Abscess

This type of abscess is found on the gums. Consequently, when a gingival abscess is left untreated, it spreads and worsens to become a periodontal abscess. It is caused by bacteria infection due to rough brushing, tooth decay, tooth crack, food accumulation, or bleeding of gums. The disease causes inflammation and bump-like sacs filled with pus.

3. A periapical abscess (Tooth Abscess)

A periapical abscess is found at the tip of a tooth’s root. Sometimes around the length of the tooth’s root. It is caused by a decayed tooth where the decaying matter spreads to the pulp(innermost tooth layer containing nerves) via the dentin and enamel.

This type of abscess may also be formed around a tooth that had been previously treated. The treatment could either be by filling or had undergone a tooth canal. In such a case, it happens due to treatment failure; hence, infection.

Causes of Dental Abscess

Generally, dental abscess takes place when a bacteria infection spreads in a tooth or gum lines. The mouth is usually full of bacteria forming a sticky film called plaque. However, some causes depend on the type of dental abscess like:

•  Periodontal abscess: it is caused in various ways such as a failed dental procedure, use of antibiotics in untreated periodontitis, or when the plague bacteria cause infection on the gums. The gum disease is called periodontitis. This disease causes inflammation in the gums, which separates the tooth’s root from the base creating a gap. It becomes difficult to clean the gap and so it becomes a hideout for bacteria.
• Gingival abscess: it is also caused in various ways such as when a foreign body gets into the gums, perforation on the gums, or occlusion stress. These foreign bodies include toothbrush bristle, a popcorn hull, to name but a few.
• Periapical abscess: it happens when the bacteria get into your teeth through dental carries that form on the outer surface layer of the tooth. Dental caries breaks down the inner and outer layer of the tooth and eventually reach the center part of the tooth. Also called the pulp, when it dies, its chamber becomes infected.

You need to maintain your oral hygiene to avoid plagues. The bacteria in the plaque produce acids that can damage teeth and gums that leads to periodontal disease or dental caries. The following situations also increase chances of getting dental abscesses:

•  More consumption of sugary drinks and foods encouraging bacteria growth that leads to tooth decay resulting in an abscess.
•  The weak immune system, especially patients with diabetes, HIV, and during pregnancy or breastfeeding, those undergoing chemotherapy and those under medication with steroids.
•  An injured tooth or gum where bacteria can get in
•  Poor observation on dental hygiene.

Any tooth is prone to develop an abscess, but the wisdom teeth, the third molars, are more inclined than the rest. They are a challenge to clean and hide bacteria unnoticeable for a long time. Most people prefer their removal to avoid future complications.

Risk Factors of Dental Abscess

The most common cause of tooth abscess is dental cavities. So any other reason that raises the risk of the cavity is a risk factor for dental abscess. The risk factors include:

• Poor oral health care: insufficient dental care is a risk factor for dental abscess. You need to brush your teeth after every meal, if possible, after eating anything. Use dental floss regularly to maintain good dental hygiene.
• Sugary diet: foods or drinks with high sugar can increase the risk of dental cavities leading to an abscess. Such foods and beverages include soda, sweets, BBQ sauce, granola, etc.
• Some medical conditions: some medical conditions are risk factors of dental abscesses, such as diabetes, dementia, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory infections. They reduce your body’s immune system risking dental abscess.

Possible Complications of Dental Abscess

It is critical to seek treatment for dental abscess conditions from dental abscess dentist experts. Dentists from The Hawthorne Dentist are exceptional in their service delivery. Even if the abscess ruptured by itself, the infected area needs proper checkup and treatment by a dentist to avoid future health complications. If a dental abscess is left unattended, it can result in mortal hiccups due to infections. Some of these possible complications include:

• Dental cysts: a dental cyst is a cavity filled with fluid that develops at the bottom of the tooth’s root when the dental abscess is not medically treated. A dental cyst can either be treated with antibiotics or removed surgically.
• Osteomyelitis: osteomyelitis is a bone infection caused by bacteria in a tooth abscess that spread via the circulatory system. The infection can cause high temperatures, and severe aches in the affected bone mostly the area around the dental abscess or other bones in your body through blood. This complication can be treated using antibiotics. One can opt to take medicine orally or through injection.
• Cavernous sinus thrombosis: 0.1% of cavernous sinus thrombosis cases are caused by a dental abscess. So it is a condition that rarely occurs due to dental abscess infection. The bacteria that spreads from the dental abscess enhances blood clotting, forming a large vein at the bottom surface of the brain. This is a lethal condition, but it can be healed using antibiotics treatment or by draining the sinus through a surgery.
• Ludwig’s angina: Ludwig’s angina is caused by an infection found on the bottom surface of the mouth when the dental abscess spreads the bacteria. This complication leads to a painful inflammation below the tongue as well as the neck. In more severe cases, it blocks the respiratory system. It is treated with antibiotics, and if there is a breathing problem, emergency surgery is performed to clear up the airway.
• Maxillary sinusitis: maxillary sinusitis is as a result of an infection from a dental abscess. It is also caused by a bacteria infection from the small air-filled spaces found on the back of cheekbones. Although it does not seem a severe case, it produces high temperatures, pain, and sensitivity on the cheeks. Sometimes it clears up by itself, but it is advisable to confirm from a dentist and have antibiotics prescribed.
• Cellulitis: cellulitis is a skin infection caused by bacteria. The dental abscess infection can sometimes advance to the face resulting in face inflammation. Cellulitis you get symptoms like fever, facial swelling, and warmth in the affected area.

Prevention of Dental Abscess

The surest way to prevent bacteria infection in your mouth is to have regular checkups at The Hawthorne Dentist. Our dentist will monitor and address any cavities present in the mouth. We also recommend radiographs at least twice a year. This improves the health of maxillary (upper jaw bone) and mandibular (lower jawbone) jawbones.

The best prevention of dental abscess is a proper diet along with observation of good oral hygiene. To do this, you need to:

• Floss daily to clean your teeth as well as under the gum lines.
• Use fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth at least two times a day.
• Spit out the excess toothpaste. Avoid rinsing with water or mouthwash. They remove the protective toothpaste.
• Cut down on sugary and starchy foods and drinks especially before meals and before going to bed.
• Make a point of visiting your dentist regularly, the dentist may suggest when to have a checkup depending on your oral health.
• Invest in a cavity-preventing diet to minimize or eliminate decay and abscesses.
• Wear a mouthguard if you are a sportsman to prevent dental trauma.
• Drink lots of liquids to prevent your mouth from becoming dry.
• Make it a habit to chew gum that is sugar-free to increase the production of saliva.

Treatment Options of Dental Abscess

A dental abscess will not be wholly healed without treatment. The process is done by simply removing the source of infection by draining the pus. Some people will wait until the abscess bursts or disperse on its own and the pain will stop. However, you need professional dental treatment from The Hawthorne Dentist who will treat you. The dentist will administer treatment based on the location of the dental abscess and how severe the infection is, he or she uses the following possible remedies:

Root Canal Treatment

This is a procedure that helps to remove the abscess from the root before filling and sealing it. A root canal surgery may be recommended if there is any diseased root tissue after a cleared infection. It is only recommended when there is enough tooth structure left to restore a permanent tooth.

Dental Extraction

There are circumstances whereby the root canal treatment cannot restore a tooth. Therefore, the dentist has to extract the infected tooth to eliminate possible infections. The dentist will remove the tooth by either scraping and or scooping all infected soft tissue at the apex of the tooth. Nevertheless, by extracting and cleaning the tooth affected area, will make it possible for the wound to heal fast.

Antibiotics Treatment

Antibiotics are known for killing germs, and they also kill bugs in tooth abscesses. They assist the body in repairing the tooth and bone. The dentist, after X-rays, to confirm an infection, may prescribe for you antibiotics, mostly penicillin. The antibiotics are sufficient that they control the abscess, and the symptoms subside within 48hours. The healing process typically takes five days.

The antibiotics may not be necessary if the abscess is limited to only the abscessed area. However, if the infection has spread to nearby teeth or any other areas, the dentist has no option but to prescribe antibiotics to minimize the spread of infection and avoid any further complications.

Salty Water Treatment

The dentist might recommend warm salty water during recovery to alleviate discomfort and promote healing. In another situation, if a dental abscess ruptures on its own, salty water comes in handy as the rinses soothe, clean and drains the abscess before you can see your dentist.

Incision Treatment

In this process, the dentist will administer anesthetic to the patient to numb the infected area. The treatment involves cutting the dental abscess and the sac-like bump with pus that contains the bacteria drained away.

Trapped Foreign Body Removal

The dental abscess could have been caused by trapped food between teeth or a foreign body stuck in between the tooth and the gum. The dentist will remove the trapped item and use saline to clean the area affected.

Operculectomy

Operculectomy is removing a flap gum overlying on a tooth. In some cases, the dental abscess may be associated with inflammation of soft tissues (pericoronitis). The dentist will perform a minor surgery involving getting rid of the excess gum that overlaps the infected tooth.

Surgery Treatment

Surgery is done to a recurring infection by an oral surgeon. Additionally, if a dental abscess has spread on the bottom surface of the mouth or neck, it needs to be drained in the operating room. The process involves the removal of the periodontal pocket and reshaping of the gum tissue. Moreover, if even after root canal treatment, the infection does not heal, surgery is recommended as well as a diagnostic biopsy.

Hospitalization

Severe infections of the dental abscess, body secondary infections, and after that, complications need emergency hospital care. We offer these and more services at The Hawthorne Dentist. Our dentist will advise you for hospital admittance if your condition is extreme and life-threatening, as well as if you require a close check.

It is also critical to note that the primary teeth in children if a tooth is abscessed, there is not much that can be done to save the tooth. The appropriate treatment would be to extract the affected tooth. Complete removal of the abscessed tooth would also be essential to eliminate the further infection that could risk the adult tooth growing underneath.

Additionally, a dental abscess is more dangerous in pregnant women and could harm the fetus. At this stage of pregnancy, the abscess needs immediate attention to minimize the spread of infection to the unborn child.

Diagnosis of Dental Abscess

You should visit us at The Hawthorne Dentist immediately; you experience symptoms of dental abscess. Our dentist will analyze your dental cavity condition and locate the dental abscess for diagnosis. Later we:

•  Will perform X-ray radiography to help us identify the exact abscess location.
•  Will further perform a CT scan if the infection has spread to other areas.
•  Will use an instrument to press the infected tooth.

Why The Hawthorne Dentist?

There are many reasons why patients require an emergency dentist. Dental problems can emerge at any time of the day. That is why at The Hawthorne Dentist, we open all day and night to accommodate any last-minute appointment request so that the patient does not have to undergo further oral pain.

Dental abscesses are extremely dangerous if ignored. That is why our dentists perform oral examinations to get a more precise look at the infected area and determine its condition. From there, we administer the proper treatment to prevent further complications.

We understand that dental abscess is not a simple issue. That is why we take it with the seriousness that it deserves. We are a dedicated team of dentists ready to bring back your smile. Our vastly experienced dentists have flexible hours that you can call or book an appointment at your convenience time.

With state-of-art digital technology, visiting us would make you very comfortable. We have a group of staff that is courteous and will make you feel relaxed and subside your agony. Then go ahead and offer comprehensive and compassionate dental care service that is exceptional.

You do not have to squeeze time on your busy schedule. We treat dental abscesses at once within a short period. Be assured that you will receive the best dental abscess care at The Hawthorne Dentist.

Find a Hawthorne Dentist Near Me

Just like any other dental problem, a dental abscess is also a painful condition. You have to seek medical hygiene treatment in time. It is crucial to prevent the spread of the bacteria infection before it develops into a more complicated disease that can affect your overall health. If you or your loved one gets symptoms of a dental abscess, contact The Hawthorne Dentist at 310-775-2557. You do not need to worry about payment methods; we accept PPO, private insurance, and cash or credit. Do not hesitate, give us a call, we have emergency dentists waiting for your call and give you a lifetime relief from dental abscess.