It has recently been observed that oral health effects overall health. That is why it is recommended that people have dental cleanings and examinations every six months. These visits help to identify decay, fractures, gingivitis, and other dental issues in advance before they progress to become dental emergencies or cause severe pain and toothache.
Having an abscessed tooth is an unpleasant experience that can cause a significant amount of discomfort. If you experience symptoms of an abscessed tooth please contact us immediately. We are located near San Jose and regularly treat patients experiencing a dental emergency.
A dental abscess can occur if a tooth is severely decayed, fractured in a way that involves the pulp of the tooth, or if a patient has advanced periodontal disease. A periapical abscess is the most common type and typically occurs when deep decay within a tooth eventually reaches the pulp of the tooth and causes infection that travels through the roots of the tooth to the supporting surrounding structures.
A periodontal abscess is a gum infection. An infection surrounding a tooth with a periodontal abscess can spread to the surrounding teeth, gum tissue and bone.
Symptoms may include:
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
- Throbbing Pain
- Dull Ache
- Redness and Swelling
- Bad Breath
- A tooth that feels loose
- An open, draining sore on the gums
- Foul Taste
- Fever
The main symptom of a dental abscess is a throbbing pain that doesn’t seem to decrease with time in most cases, but actually becomes more intense. Usually that area of the mouth will become sensitive to chewing and will cause pain when eating, brushing and flossing, or doing anything that touches the tooth.
During your dental emergency visit, an x-ray will be taken to assist the San Jose area dentist in diagnosing the cause of the abscess. Dental instruments will also be used to isolate the offending tooth or teeth. You will be asked questions regarding what types of stimuli trigger the pain. The Dentist will also look for signs of swelling and redness.
It is possible that he or she will prescribe an antibiotic to reduce the infection. It is important to follow the directions on the prescription bottle closely to experience relief as quickly as possible. Unlike infections that occur in other parts of the body, infections within the mouth will not be cured by taking antibiotics. The antibiotics will help to relieve the symptoms temporarily. Permanent relief will only come when the cause of the infection is treated by the San Jose area dentist.
A periapical abscess around the root of a tooth may be treated with root canal therapy. After the tooth is numb, the nerve and blood vessels are removed, and any infected pulp and decay is removed. The root of the tooth is filled with a rubbery material called Gutta Percha. A large filling, known as buildup, and crown are used to finish restoring the tooth.
When a root canal is not possible because of the location and depth of decay, or amount of bone loss, an extraction would be the necessary treatment. The extracted tooth can be replaced with an implant, removable partial, or bridge to restore biting and chewing function.
A Periodontal abscess is treated with deep cleanings done by a dental hygienist or dentist. Severe cases of periodontal disease may require surgical intervention. During any type of periodontal therapy, anesthetic is administered to keep the patient comfortable.
Please contact your San Jose area dentist for any type of dental emergency to receive thorough dental treatment and gentle pain relief.