A condition where a sore is caused due to pus accumulation inside the tooth is called “tooth abscesses”. It is the consequence of bacterial infection that occurs inside the jaw bone, gums, o tooth nerve [pulp]. Untreated gum disease, cavities, and mouth injuries are common teeth abscess causes.
If you feel you have a tooth abscess then it is essential to visit the dental clinic for treatment. For the best dentist Cypress TX, visit the Orion Dental Specialties clinic. The dental practitioners offer routine checkup as well as a cosmetic oral treatment. Make an appointment as soon as possible to avoid infection from worsening.
Tooth abscesses stages
Tooth abscesses never start with an ache but slowly turn worse. The infection proceeds in three stages.
- Tooth decay
In the first stage, you will experience decay in 3 separate areas –
- Enamel or the outer tooth layer will decay and erode. You can see white spots on the tooth surface or increased tooth sensitivity.
- Dentin is the layer underneath the enamel, which decays and creates a physical hole inside the tooth.
- Pulp decay occurs when bacteria attack the nerve in the tooth. Pulp is the innermost layer, which is infected by bacteria.
- Abscess formation
After bacteria penetration in the pulp, the nerve dies and abscess starts to form. In this stage, you experience gum swelling and inflammation along with ache near the afflicted site. Your family dentist will advise you to avoid cold and hot food or beverages or place a cold pack and chew on the opposite side of the afflicted tooth.
- Sepsis
If you ignore abscessed tooth treatment then the bacteria will spread in your bloodstream and cause a dangerous and fatal infection called ‘Sepsis’. If you experience the symptoms given below seek professional dental care help promptly.
- Increase in heartbeat
- Chills or fever
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Cold and clammy skin
- Nausea
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion
- Muscle pain
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty in breathing
When you visit the Cypress TX dentist for abscessed tooth treatment, you will be recommended one of the following procedures.
Treatment for tooth abscess
- Abscess draining – The periodontal pocket will be drained, cleaned and roots will be leveled for quick tooth recovery.
- Root canal – It is a procedure that involves draining inside the tooth for draining the pus and eliminating damaged tissue. The damaged area is sterilized and filled, the thus infected tooth is saved and future infection is prevented.
- Extraction – If the abscess is very large and the dentist are unable to save the infected tooth or patients don’t desire to go for root canal therapy, the dental practitioner will move to extract the tooth and completely remove it.
- Antibiotics – Antibiotics will be recommended based on infection severity. Antibiotics are a temporary solution because if the infection source is not addressed then infection possibly reoccurs over time.
Tips to prevent a dental abscess
- Regular dental checkup.
- Proper brushing and flossing habit
If the decay is treated as early as possible then pain is mild and the recovery is fast and treatment is less expensive.