A dental abscess is a build-up of pus in the teeth or gums caused by a bacterial infection. This condition can occur for different reasons and in three different types: Gingival (developed in the gums, does not usually affect the tooth or supporting structures), Periapical (happens at the tip of the root and Periodontal (starts in bone and tissues that support the tooth. A periodontal abscess usually results from periodontitis or gum disease).
To know if you have a dental abscess, here are some of the signs:
- Intense toothache or pain in your gums
- Redness inside the mouth or outside the mouth on the face or jaw
- Sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink in the affected area
- A bad taste in the mouth
- Difficulty opening the mouth and chewing food
- Swollen face or jaw
- High temperatures
As the tooth infection will not go away on its own, getting the proper dental treatment is fundamental to eliminating the disease and preventing complications. The recommended treatments are:
- Incision and drainage: The dentist makes a small cut in the abscess to drain the pus, and a small rubber drain can be placed to keep the area open for drainage.
- Root canal: This option helps to eliminate the infection and save the tooth. This procedure is widespread and removes the tooth’s infected inner pulp, filling the space with material to prevent another infection. After the process, the tooth should be back to normal, though a crown might be needed to protect the root canal.
- Tooth extraction: If the tooth cannot be saved, the dentist may need to pull or extract the tooth allowing the pus to drain from the socket.
In conclusion, if the proper treatment and medication are done, cases of an abscessed tooth can be solved and give the patient a quality of life.
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About the Author: MSci Maísa Melo is a Pharmacist and a current PhD student in cosmetic technology, from São Paulo, Brazil. She has earned her master’s degree from the University of São Paulo and has been involved with the development, stability, safety and efficacy of cosmetics since 2013. She has specialized in the clinical efficacy of cosmetics by biophysical and skin imaging techniques as well as the use of alternative models to animal testing. Her research work has been published in several scientific journals and book chapters from the field.