Is a Dental Abscess an Emergency?
Any dental abscess should be seen as a dental emergency, and in some cases, a dental abscess could even be considered a medical emergency. With prompt treatment, most dental abscesses can be removed and the oral health restored, but when left untreated, infection could spread and destroy other oral tissues or even enter the bloodstream and cause permanent, if not fatal, damage to the vital organs. When it comes to a dental abscess, knowing what to look for and seeking prompt treatment can prevent these potentially catastrophic outcomes. If you notice any signs of a possible dental abscess, contact your dentist immediately. If your symptoms are severe, interfering with your ability to swallow or breathe, or accompanied by a fever, go to the emergency room for immediate medical attention.
When a tooth becomes infected, which can happen if the protective outer layers of the tooth are damaged or fractured, allowing bacteria to enter the vital inner pulp inside the tooth, this infection can collect in the tip of the tooth root and form a pocket of pus. The surrounding area becomes inflamed and irritated, and the pulp inside the tooth, which is rich with nerve endings and vital tissue, rages in throbbing, intense pain. A dental abscess can form at the tip of the tooth or in alongside the tooth root, between the gums and tooth. The most common cause of dental abscess is a damaged tooth; the tooth could be damaged by tooth decay, or worn down, cracked, or fractured because of excessive force or impact. Regular dental checkups, proper oral hygiene, and following your dentist’s recommendations for treatment can greatly reduce the risk of a tooth abscess.
The most telling sign of a dental abscess is pain in the tooth, which could feel like a general, dull but constant ache or be more intense and throbbing. This pain may appear whether you’re chewing or not, and it may intensify when the tooth is exposed to extremely hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods. Your gums may be visibly inflamed, swollen and angry-looking, and you may see an open sore or pimple-like bump on your gums, which may be noticeably draining into the mouth, causing a foul smell and putrid taste. When infection begins to spread to the tissues around the abscess, your jaw, neck, or face may be swollen, and your lymph nodes may feel tender and appear visibly enlarged. Another sign that infection has advanced is fever, which is a sure indication that you need to seek medical attention.
Dentists treat dental abscess with the primary goal of removing infection and the intention of saving the tooth whenever possible, but sometimes a tooth that’s too significantly damaged will require extraction. The first step of any treatment is to address infection by eliminating the abscess. If the abscess is in your gums, your dentist will make an incision into the area to drain the abscess, cleaning the area to remove dead or infected tissue. If infection is severe, you may be required to complete a round of antibiotic therapy before draining is possible. If the infection is inside the tooth’s root, the dentist will perform a root canal, removing infection from inside the tooth’s pulp before treating and sealing the tooth and restoring it with a dental crown.