Everything You Need to Know About Dental Abscess
Hello Dear Readers,
During the years I have spent in the field of oral and dental health, I have encountered a recurring problem in thousands of patients: dental abscess. Usually, our patients describe this condition as “severe pain and swelling that comes out suddenly”. However, this is actually a serious reaction of the body to an infection. The good news is that with early diagnosis and proper treatment, a dental abscess is a condition that can often be successfully treated.
But I would like to point out in particular:
➡ When the pain goes away, the problem will not go away.
➡ Do not think that there will be no need for treatment because the abscess has burst.
➡ It is dangerous to burst an abscess at home.
Sometimes these infections, which can be temporarily suppressed with an antibiotic, can spread to the jawbone, neck, or even the entire body if left untreated. It can even cause life-threatening systemic infections such as septicemia. Therefore, please read the following information carefully. A dental abscess is not just a ”pain”; it is a serious health problem that concerns the entire body.
And now, with the text I will share with you, you can learn about this topic in detail, and have a clear idea of what to do when you experience symptoms.
Ingredients
- What is an Abscess?
- What is a Dental Abscess?
- What Causes a Dental Abscess?
- What are the Symptoms of a Dental Abscess?
- How is a Dental Abscess Diagnosed?
- How Does a Dental Abscess Pass?
* Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Abscess
WHAT IS AN ABSCESS?
Abscesses are pink or dark red pus sacs that occur in tissues of the body such as mouth, teeth, gums, cheek, under jaw, neck circumference and armpits and skin areas in the body, named according to the areas where they are located, usually caused by bacterial infection. It is a way for the body to try to throw off the infection in order to recover. The pus in abscesses consists of dead tissue, white blood cells and bacteria. Although abscesses can occur almost anywhere on the body, they are more common on the skin, subcutaneous, cheek, oral mucosa and teeth. Abscesses that appear on the skin become pink or red in color, swollen and painful.
WHAT IS A DENTAL ABSCESS?
A dental abscess is a local bacterial-caused inflammation that occurs inside, around the dental tissues, or on the bone holding the tooth. It manifests itself in the form of pus (pus) accumulation in the area of inflammation. A dental abscess can occur in different areas close to the tooth for different reasons. An abscess at the tip of the tooth is called a periapical abscess. An abscess that forms on the gum is called a periodontal abscess. An abscess that comes out of the tooth and reaches the cheek is called a cheek abscess.
WHAT CAUSES A DENTAL ABSCESS?
Dental abscess can occur for various reasons. The most common causes include poor oral hygiene, tooth Decays, trauma, gum diseases and unsuccessful root canal treatments. An infection begins when the bacteria reaches the inner part of the tooth, called the pulp, which can lead to an abscess.
Especially untreated deep caries, old and leaky fillings, failed root canal treatments or broken teeth make it easier for bacteria to move to the root tip. In addition, dental procedures that are not performed under sterile conditions also prepare the ground for infection. Most of the factors that carry the infection directly to the bone are caused by faulty or neglected treatment processes. In order to reduce these risks, all operative procedures in our clinic are performed in a special operating room environment within our clinic in 100% compliance with sterilization protocols.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A DENTAL ABSCESS?
The symptoms of a dental abscess can generally be listed as follows;
* Toothache or severe pain in the gums. The pain can spread to the jawbone, neck and ear.
* Redness
* Swelling. The swelling experienced may develop in the face, cheek or neck area, which may cause breathing or even swallowing difficulties.
* Pain during chewing
* Difficulty opening the mouth
- Bad taste and constant bad smell that does not go away
- High fever
* Sensitivity to hot or cold food and drinks
HOW IS A DENTAL ABSCESS DIAGNOSED?
A dental abscess can be diagnosed with a clinical examination by a dentist and a detailed radiological examination. The dental examination is extremely important. Since there are other ailments that may show symptoms similar to a dental abscess, they should be determined during the examination.
X-ray imaging can usually be used to diagnose a dental abscess. Computed Tomography (CT) imaging can also be used in cases where the infection has spread to other areas of the neck.
Who Is More At Risk?
The risk of developing an abscess is much higher in some individuals than in others. Since the risks of those with immune system problems and systemic diseases are very high, dental and gum health requires extra attention.
* Patients with diabetes
* Individuals with a weak immune system (those undergoing cancer treatment, those undergoing organ transplantation)
* Smokers
* Women who experience hormonal changes during pregnancy
- Individuals with poor oral hygiene
* Those who have bruxism (tooth tightening) problems
In these individuals, abscesses spread faster and healing may be delayed. For this reason, I recommend more frequent check-ups.
HOW DOES A DENTAL ABSCESS PASS ?
In the treatment of dental abscess, first of all, the source of the infection is determined. Then the infected tissue is cleaned and root canal treatment is applied if necessary. The procedures are performed with local anesthesia and the person does not feel pain. In severe cases, tooth extraction may be required. Antibiotic treatment can also help control the infection.
* Draining the dental abscess: The dental abscess is drained with a small incision or needle. This method is usually a temporary solution. Usually, additional treatment is required. Oct.
* Tooth extraction: In cases where root canal treatment does not work, the tooth affected by the abscess can be saved by root canal replacement treatment, if the tooth is not saved, the abscess is drained by tooth extraction.
* Canal treatment: Endodontic therapy, that is, canal treatment, is the process of cleaning, shaping and filling the canal cavity with tissue-friendly canal fillers by removing pulp tissue that is inflamed for various reasons or infected by the placement of microorganisms.
* Drug treatment: If the infection is limited to the abscess area, antibiotic treatment may not be needed. However, antibiotic treatment can be applied in cases where the infection has spread to other teeth or to a nearby area.
Dental abscess treatment and Dental rescue Operation with combined treatment: It is highly likely that the abscess will be saved without pulling the tooth and the abscess will be removed, with a positive result with combined treatment and operation. At the initial stage, root canal treatment of abscessed teeth should be performed uniformly. If he has undergone root canal treatment in the past, canal filling and dental filling are strengthened by performing canal treatment renewal treatment. Then the infection is drained with gingival incisions and the inflammation is controlled with antibiotic treatment. Finally, it can be achieved to remove the inflammation at the root tip of the tooth by performing Dental rescue Operations, Reimplantation and Apical Resection Operations. In this way, both the abscess is completely removed and an attempt is made to be saved without pulling the tooth.
Those Who Think ”I will Pass the Abscess with Antibiotics” Pay Attention!
One of the most common mistakes in society is to take antibiotics immediately when the pain starts. However, a dental abscess does not go away only with medication. Because the antibiotic cannot fully penetrate the abscess chamber. The vessels in the infected area are narrowed, and the density of pus makes the effect of the drug limited. This can cause the infection to spread and spread to the bone. Even the unconscious use of antibiotics causes the tooth abscess to grow inside the jawbone and insidiously dissolve the jawbone, giving the patient no symptoms, including pain.
I always tell my patients this:
“Be sure to get examined by your doctor before starting antibiotics. Antibiotics only work in the right amount and in the right case at the right time.”
Indiscriminate use of antibiotics not only increases resistance, but also masks a spread that can be life-threatening.
Things to Be Considered After Treatment
Being careful after your treatment is done will speed up the healing process and prevent complications. For this reason, I definitely make the following recommendations to my patients:
- If antibiotics have been prescribed, use them until they run out.
* If pus has accumulated in your mouth, follow the mouthwash recommendations to the letter.
* The use of painkillers should be as recommended by the doctor.
* Avoid hot food/drink during the healing process.
* Apply a cold compress to the area where the swelling is present (for the first 24 hours).
* Brushing teeth should not be interrupted, but the area where the procedure is performed should be gently cleaned.
- Do not skip check-in appointments.
What happens if a dental abscess is not treated?
Untreated dental abscess can lead to serious complications. The infection can spread to the jawbone, reach the sinus cavities, or enter the blood, posing life risks such as sepsis. For this reason, when symptoms of a dental abscess appear, it is necessary to consult a dentist without wasting time.
Unfortunately, sometimes patients with abscesses come to the doctor late, thinking that they will manage the condition with painkillers for a few days and pass. This delay can cause the infection to spread to bone tissue, permanent asymmetry of the face, or, although rare, turn into sepsis, which is a life-threatening picture.
In addition, root canal treatments that are not well monitored or unsuccessful after root canal treatment may also turn into abscesses years later. That’s why I recommend regular periodic checkups to every root canal treatment patient.
The Most Common Mistakes That Patients Make
According to my clinical observations, the following errors play the biggest role in the progression of dental abscess:
* Waiting for it to “go away on its own”
* Trying to burst the abscess at home
* Stopping the antibiotic early or taking it according to the head
* Discontinuing treatment halfway with the reduction of pain
* Continuing inadequate oral hygiene
* Postponing the 20th tooth that needs to be removed
Remember, the passing of the pain does not mean that you have recovered. The infection may be progressing quietly at the root tip or in the bone.
What Should Be Done To Protect Against Dental Abscess?
I always say this: the best way to treat a dental abscess is to prevent it from ever occurring. Because when the abscess forms, the damage has already begun. However, with the right measures, it is possible to completely prevent this situation.
The protective methods I recommend are:
*Regular tooth brushing: Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste with a medium-hardness toothbrush after each meal.
- Decongestant Decongestant and interface brush use: Bacterial plaque between the teeth can cause abscess.
* dentist check-up every 6 months: Hidden progressive caries is detected early thanks to this.
*x-ray evaluation of 20-year-old teeth: Buried or half-healed 20-year-old teeth are a risk of abscess.
*Reducing the consumption of sugary foods: Bacteria love sugar very much; it weakens tooth enamel.
*Smoking should be stopped: Gum disrupts blood flow, increases the risk of infection.
*Root canal treated teeth should be monitored regularly: infection may recur in old root canal treatments.
Conclusion: Decumbent Abscess Should Not Be Ignored
Dental abscess is a serious health problem and should not be neglected. With early diagnosis and proper treatment, dental health can be maintained and more serious complications can be prevented. When you experience symptoms of a dental abscess, it is important to consult a dentist without wasting time.
A dental abscess is a focus of infection that should be taken seriously. Antibiotics offer a temporary solution, but alone is not enough. The source of the abscess should be identified and drained under special sterile conditions, and then the necessary treatment should be performed.
In our clinic in Mersin Yenişehir, we apply all sterilization protocols in both microbiological and surgical terms in such cases, and we offer a safe and effective treatment to our patients.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DENTAL ABSCESS
- Does a dental abscess kill?
If the abscess is not treated by a dentist or specialist dentist, it can spread to other areas in the head and neck area. A swelling that will prevent the patient from breathing is life-threatening. It can pose serious risks of shortness of breath, heart attack and vital functions. The condition of spreading the infection called septicemia to the entire body by entering the bloodstream is also fatal.
- Is a dental abscess explosion dangerous?
The eruption of the abscess can be positive in terms of relieving the patient by draining pus (pus). However, it does not mean that the infection has passed. As soon as the abscess bursts, the main underlying cause of abscess formation should be found and the problem related to this causative tooth gum or jawbone should be treated. In addition to treating the main source that causes this abscess, the abscess path, the source of inflammation that remains in the Decussation of the abscess on the jawbone should also be eliminated. If necessary, antibiotic support will be decided by your dentist or maxillofacial surgeon. It should definitely be evaluated by a dentist.
- Can dental abscess blasting be done at home?
The eruption of the abscess can give you a lot of relief at that moment, but never burst the abscess. The first controlled removal of the abscess in abscess will be very useful for the body both in the jaw area and systemically. Although it is thought that relieving inflammation will reduce pain, the risk of adding new bacteria to the environment is very high. It is ideal to perform a controlled evacuation of the main abscess, a method of controlling the infection, and a series of treatments or operations that eliminate the main underlying causes of the infection.
- How many days does a dental abscess go away?
A dental abscess does not go away on its own. In an abscess, pain and swelling are reduced if the inflammation flows out on its own. Also, if the abscess goes out on its own, know that it will start to melt the jawbone or damage the gum inside the jaw or gum. The dental abscess can be controlled in 2- days and the ideal treatment can be started. The patient immediately begins to relax during this process in terms of pain and swelling. But unless intervened by a dentist or maxillofacial surgeon, the abscess has a high risk of recurrence and will even come back with a bigger problem, such as a boomerang.
- how is the treatment of 20% dental abscess?
The tooth that causes inflammation is often pulled together with or after the use of antibiotics. The abscess path should be cleaned, abscess residues on the jawbone should be cleaned by surgery, and the risk of cyst formation on the jawbone of the inflammatory residue should be reduced in the future. If the abscess has given way to the skin, facial aesthetics should be protected by applying aesthetic stitches to the skin.
- How is dental abscess evacuation performed?
Local anesthesia is applied to the area where the abscess develops. Then the inflamed area is cleaned under sterile conditions. It is necessary to make sure that the inflammation inside the extracted jawbone is completely cleaned with special hand tools. Gingival suture can be performed to ensure the healing of the gum after tooth extraction. If the dental abscess has given way to the gum, cheek, lip or skin, the abscess path should also be cleaned very carefully to prevent the destruction of the abscess in the skin.
- What happens if the dental abscess is not treated?
A dental abscess does not go away without treatment. If the abscess bursts, the pain may decrease. However, this does not mean that the problem has disappeared. If a dental abscess is left untreated, it can threaten the function of life by melting the jawbone, developing a jaw cyst, gum retraction, scarring of the skin, skin collapse and deformation, increased bacterial circulation in the body, and the risk of a heart attack due to septicemia, closing the respiratory tract with abscess growth.
- How does a dental abscess pass at home?
Abscess does not pass at home. Painkillers can be taken until you go to the dentist, hot and cold foods should be avoided. But this is a temporary solution. Painkillers are taken 6-8 hours before going to the dentist and help the doctor’s diagnosis to be correct. It is absolutely necessary to consult a dentist.