| Dental Abscess or Tooth
Abscess or Mouth Abscess or Odontogenic Infection or Tooth Infection
is an inflamed, pus filled lump in the bone or soft tissues of the jaw. |
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| A dental abscess is an infection of the mouth, face, jaw, or throat
that begins as a tooth infection or cavity. These infections are common
in people with poor dental health and result from lack of proper and
timely dental care. Bacteria from a cavity can extend into the gums, the cheek, the
throat, beneath the tongue, or even into the jaw or facial bones. A
dental abscess can become very painful when tissues become inflamed.
Pus collects at the site of the infection and will become
progressively more painful until it either ruptures and drains on
its own or is drained surgically.
Sometimes the infection can progress to the point where swelling
threatens to block the
airway, causing difficulty
breathing. Dental abscesses can also make you generally ill,
with
nausea, vomiting, fevers, chills, and sweats. |
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Tooth Abscess Causes
and Symptoms
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The cause of these infections is direct growth of the bacteria from
an existing cavity into the soft tissues and bones of the face and neck:
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a crack or chip in the tooth
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a damage to a tooth may cause pulp spoil even if the tooth has no
visible chips or cracks
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tenderness to touch and chewing
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swelling, drainage and tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as
nearby bone and gingival tissues
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sometimes, however, there are no symptoms
- left without treatment, pus
builds up at the root tip, in the jawbone, forming a "pus-pocket"
- an abscess can cause damage
to the bone around the teeth
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Therefore, symptoms of a tooth abscess typically include
pain, swelling, and redness of the mouth and face. With an
advanced infection, you can suffer nausea, vomiting,
fever, chills, and
diarrhea. |
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The List of Signs
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| Note that mouth abscess symptoms usually refers to various symptoms
known to a patient, but the phrase Dental abscess signs may refer to
those signs only noticable by a dentist.
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| The signs of tooth abscess typically include, but are not
limited to, cavities, gum
inflammation, oral swelling, tenderness with touch, pus
drainage, and sometimes difficulty fully opening your mouth or
swallowing. |
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When to Seek Medical Care
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| If you think you have an abscess, call your dentist. If you cannot
reach a dentist, go to a hospital's
Emergency Department for evaluation, especially if you feel sick. |
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- If an infection becomes so painful that it cannot be managed by
nonprescription medicines, see your doctor or dentist for drainage.
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- If you develop fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea as a
result of a dental abscess, see your doctor.
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| WARNING:
If you have intolerable pain, difficulty breathing or swallowing, any of
the symptoms of a dental abscess, or you cannot reach your doctor or
dentist during off hours, go to a hospital's emergency department for
evaluation and treatment. By seeking treatment before your symptoms
progress to this stage, you can avoid emergency department visits.
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Exams and Tests
and Medical Treatment
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A doctor or dentist can determine by physical examination if you have
a drainable abscess.
X-rays of the teeth may be necessary to show small abscesses that
are at the deepest part of the tooth. Signs observed by the doctor,
including nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, or diarrhea, may indicate
that the infection has progressed to the point where it is making your
whole body sick. The doctor may decide to cut open the abscess and allow the pus to
drain. Unless the abscess ruptures on its own, this is the only way that
the infection can be cured. People with tooth abscesses are typically
prescribed pain relievers and, at the discretion of the doctor,
antibiotics to fight the infection. An abscess that has extended to
the floor of the mouth or to the neck may need to be drained in the
operating room under
anesthesia. |
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Self-Care at Home
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- People who have cavities or toothaches can take nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory medicines, such as
ibuprofen (Advil) or
naproxen (Aleve), as needed for relief of pain and inflammation.
- If an abscess ruptures by itself, warm water rinses will help
cleanse the mouth and encourage drainage.
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Follow-up
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| With dental abscess, as with each and every illness, comply with your
doctor's instructions for follow-up care. Proper treatment often means
reassessment, multiple visits, or referral to a specialist. Cooperate
with your doctors by following instructions carefully to ensure the best
possible health for you and your family. |
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Prevention
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Prevention plays a major role in maintaining good dental health.
Daily brushing and flossing, and regular dental checkups can prevent
tooth decay and dental abscess.
- Remember to brush and floss after every meal and at bedtime.
- If tooth decay is discovered early and treated promptly,
cavities that could develop into abscesses can usually be corrected.
- Avoidance of
cigarette smoking and excess alcohol consumption can help too.
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Outlook
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| The prognosis is good for resolution of a small dental abscess, once
it has ruptured or been drained. If the symptoms are improving, it is
unlikely that the infection is getting worse. Proper follow-up care with
your dentist is mandatory for reassessment of your infection and for
taking care of the problem tooth. |
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- Care might include pulling the tooth or having a root canal
performed on it.
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- Dental abscesses that have extended to the floor of the mouth or
to the neck can threaten a person's airway and ability to breathe
and may be life-threatening unless they are properly drained.
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Contact Dentist |
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| Looking forward to hearing from
you Aleksandr
V. Melekhin, DDS
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Return from Dental Abscess to Philadelphia Dentist |
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