A dental abscess refers to an infection caused by a pocket of pus that forms in the tissue surrounding a tooth. Abscesses are very serious conditions that can lead to severe complications if not treated promptly. When the dental pulp dies due to injury or decay, bacteria begin to multiply in the remaining dead tissue. These bacteria eventually spread from the root of the dead tooth into the surrounding tissue, forming a pus-filled pocket — an abscess.
When the dental pulp dies due to trauma or decay, bacteria begin to multiply in the dead tissue that remains. These bacteria eventually spread from the root of the dead tooth into the surrounding tissue, forming a pus-filled pocket – an abscess.
Another common cause of abscesses is gum disease. Gum disease causes the gums to recede and pull away from the teeth, leaving behind pockets. When one of these pockets becomes blocked, bacteria can multiply, spread, or become trapped. When this happens, an abscess starts to form beneath the gum surface, which enlarges and spreads, resulting in noticeable swelling.
Once the infection begins to spread, the jawbone may start to dissolve to make room for the swelling in the infected area. As the bone dissolves, the pressure may decrease significantly – even though the infection still remains. Even if the pain subsides, the infection continues to worsen and the pain will eventually return. Once a large portion of the bone is gone, there will be nothing left to support the tooth, causing it to loosen and eventually require extraction.
The symptoms of a dental abscess are easy to recognize, as they typically include intense pain in the affected area, red or swollen gums, a bad taste in the mouth, swelling around the area or jaw, and possibly a high fever. The pain associated with an abscess is severe and usually affects the area in a very unpleasant way — no matter what you do, the pain seems to worsen.
Abscesses most commonly occur in the back teeth, although they can also affect the front ones. Once a tooth develops an abscess, your dentist will not immediately extract it. If an abscessed tooth is pulled while the infection is still active, the bacteria may spread quickly. Instead, the dentist will usually prescribe antibiotics to help eliminate the bacteria.
The dentist may also perform a root canal treatment in an attempt to remove the dead or infected tissue. In some cases, the dentist may drill a hole into the tooth to allow the infection to drain and to remove the necrotic pulp. The most common treatment method for an abscess is using antibiotics to clear the infection, followed by removing the tooth if necessary. You should never let the condition worsen — an abscess can lead to destruction of the jawbone.
