Do You Have Tooth Abscess ?

Dr. Rachana Chindhade, Smile Care, Nashik

A dental abscess is a bacterial infection that originates from either a tooth or the gums that surround a tooth.

Causes, incidence and risk factors :

A tooth abscess is a complication of tooth decay .It may also result from trauma to the tooth ,such as when a tooth is broken or chipped. Openings in the tooth enamel allow bacteria to infect the centre of the tooth (pulp).Infection may spread out from the root of the tooth and to the bones supporting the tooth.

Infection results in a collection of pus and swelling of the tissues within the tooth. This causes a painful toothache .If the root of the tooth dies ,the toothache may stop ,unless an abscess develops. This is especially true if the infection remains active and continues to spread and destroy the tissue.

Symptoms :

Here are the main symptoms that can help you become aware of having tooth abscess :

• Your gums might become red and puffy with swelling around the infected tooth. Chewing on food can be hard task because the abscessed tooth becomes painful when it touches food or opposing teeth.
• An abscess, which is an infection ,can cause fever leading to general fatigue and even headaches.
• If swelling occurs, you may have a feeling of raised or loose tooth, this is due to the pus which might flow in the mouth.

How is an Abscessed Tooth Diagnosed :

Your dentist will tap your teeth with a dental instrument. If you have an abscessed tooth you will feel pain when the tooth is tapped. In addition your dentist may suspect an ab-scessed tooth because your gums may be swollen and red. Your dentist may also take X-rays to look for erosion of the bone around the abscess.

How is an Abscessed Tooth treated :

Strategies to eliminate the infection , preserve the tooth and prevent complications are the goals of the treatment.

• To eliminate the infection the abscess may need to be drained. Achieving drainage may be done through the tooth by procedure known as root canal. Root canal surgery may also be recommended to remove any diseased root tissue after the infection has subsided. Then a crown may be placed over the tooth.
• The tooth may also be extracted, allowing drainage through the socket.
• Finally, a third way to drain the abscess would be by incision into the gum tissue.

Antibiotics are prescribed to help fight the infection. To relieve the pain and discomfort associated with an abscessed tooth, warm salt water rinses and over the counter pain reducing medication like ibuprofen can be used.

Complications of Tooth Abscess :

Tooth abscess complications include :

• Loss of tooth.
• Spread of infection to soft tissue.
• Jawbone damage.
• Spread of infection to other areas of the body causing other disorders like endocarditis and pneumonia.
• Heart damage.

Can an Abscessed Tooth be prevented ?

Prevention plays a major role in maintaining good dental health.

• Daily brushing, flossing and regular dental check-ups can prevent tooth decay and dental abscess.
• If tooth decay is discovered early and treated promptly, cavities that could develop into abscess can usually be corrected.
• Avoidance of cigarette smoking and excess alcohol consumption can prevent the incidence of developing dental abscess.