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Things You Should Know About A Dental Abscess

Posted on: 17 June 2016

Did you recently notice a small lump on your gums that is near a painful tooth? The lump might be a dental abscess that is filled with toxic pus that can affect your health. The best thing to do is make a prompt appointment with a dentist so he or she can determine if you have a dental abscess and treat it. Take a look at this article to learn some helpful information about a dental abscess in case you have one.

Why a Dental Abscess Might Develop

A dental abscess can develop when one or more teeth have been injured in some way. However, one of the most common reasons for a dental abscess to develop is from leaving a cavity untreated for a long time. Being that you are dealing with a lump by a painful tooth, a cavity is likely the cause of your dental abscess if you have one. Even if you don't have a large and noticeable hole in your teeth, there could still be a small cavity present. However, it is also possible that your tooth has a crack in it, which could have occurred from biting down on something hard.

Complications a Dental Abscess Can Cause

A dental abscess is dangerous to your health because it can lead to a bacterial infection spreading to several different areas of your body. For instance, the infection can spread to your brain, neck and jawbones if left untreated for too long. You can also develop a possibly fatal condition known as sepsis. Basically, sepsis can occur when the infection spreads to the blood. Sepsis can lead to failure of major organs in your body like the heart, which can result in death.

How a Dental Abscess is Treated by a Dentist

As dental abscess can be treated in a few different ways along with being prescribed antibiotics, as it depends on your specific condition. It is possible that the dentist will only need to make an incision in the lump to drain out the toxic pus. However, it is common for a root canal to be performed to get rid of dental abscess. During the root canal procedure, a hole will be drilled into your tooth so the dentist can get rid of diseased pulp and drain out the abscess. Visit a dentist to discuss the lump on your gums and your painful tooth as soon as you can. To learn more, speak with someone like Family Dentistry Of Brick, PA.

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