Periapical abscess: what it is and treatments

Family dentist in Houston

A dental abscess is a collection of pus around the root of a tooth, usually caused by a bacterial infection that has spread from the tooth to surrounding tissues.

This type of pathology needs urgent treatment by the dentist, since a dental abscess will not disappear on its own.

Types of tooth abscess

There are several types of dental abscesses, which depending on their characteristics will be more or less serious and the symptoms will be located in different areas:

Gingival abscess: The abscess is found only in the gum tissue and does not affect the tooth or periodontal ligament.

Periodontal abscess: This abscess begins in the supporting bone tissue structures of the teeth.

Periapical abscess: This abscess starts in the soft pulp of the tooth.

Causes and symptoms of periapical abscesses

Periapical abscesses have dental caries as their main cause. First, decay begins by affecting the outermost layer of the tooth, the enamel, while it progresses and affects the rest of the layers of the tooth.

After the enamel, the layer that is affected is the dentin. If the decay continues, the internal pulp of the tooth will be affected, becoming infected if it is not treated.

This process is known as pulpitis. As pulpitis worsens, bacteria can reach the bone surrounding the tooth, leading to the appearance of a periapical abscess.

The main symptom of a dental abscess is pain. It can be a shooting pain and often intense. The pain may start suddenly and become more severe over the next few hours or days. In some cases the pain may radiate to the ear and neck.

Other signs of a dental abscess may be:

Severe pain in a tooth or pain in the adjacent gum

Redness inside the mouth

Sensitivity to hot or cold food and drinks in the affected area

Bad mouth taste

Difficulty opening the mouth and chewing food

Swelling on the affected side of the face

General feeling of malaise

Fever

How does a dental abscess develop?

The body attacks any type of infection with the formation of a large number of white blood cells. Pus is the buildup of those white blood cells, dead tissue, and bacteria. Sometimes pus from a dental infection spreads from the tip of the root through the bone to the gums, so that the gums swell near the root of the tooth. The inflammation caused by the accumulation of pus is usually the cause of intense and constant pain that worsens when chewing.

Depending on the location of the tooth, the infection can spread further into the soft tissues causing what is called cellulitis, causing inflammation in the jawbone or jawbone, on the floor of the mouth, or in the cheek area. Eventually, the tissue can rupture allowing the pus to drain out.

Treatment of an abscess should be done right away to minimize the chances of spreading the infection by draining the pus, which may require extraction of the tooth or a root canal or root canal treatment. Antibiotics help to inactivate the infection, but the most important thing is to eliminate the cause of the infection, which, in the case of periapical abscesses, is usually the diseased pulp of the tooth.

Treatments for periapical abscess

Anyone with symptoms related to a tooth abscess should see a dentist immediately. If you cannot go to a dentist, it is advisable to visit a family doctor.

The doctor will not be able to treat the abscess, but may prescribe antibiotics and pain relievers, and advise on self-care and pain control until the dentist can perform the necessary treatment. In case you have doubts, we recommend that you speak with a specialist to attend to your query.

Dental abscesses may first require drainage. For them, after the application of a local anesthetic, the abscess will be incised allowing the accumulated pus to exit.

Dental abscess and endodontics

Specific treatment of a periapical abscess may involve endodontics or root canal treatment to remove the affected pulp of the tooth, which is what has caused the abscess to appear. Sometimes, if the tooth is severely destroyed, root canal treatment cannot be performed, the treatment of choice being the extraction of the tooth and the possible placement of an implant.

Pain management with paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin in these cases can help reduce it while waiting for appropriate treatment. It is always important to carefully follow the package insert. Pain relievers should only be taken to reduce pain and cannot replace a visit to the dentist.

To prevent the infection from spreading, the GP or the dentist will prescribe antibiotics, which can be taken along with pain relievers.

Abscesses can lead to a number of complications, complications that typically only occur if the abscess is left untreated. However, they can occur even after apparently effective treatment, although it is usually very rare. These potential complications include the development of dental cysts, osteomyelitis, or maxillary sinusitis.

Source: adeslasdental

Prestigious Smiles Dentistry: When it comes to finding the best dental practice in Houston, Prestigious Smiles Family Dentistry is the right place. Your Dentist in Houston, Tx, is dedicated to delivering high-quality dental care using advanced technology and state-of-the-art equipment.

ist in Houston

Dentist office in Houston, Dentist near me in Houston, Emergency dentist in Houston, Family dentist in Houston, Dental clinic in Houston, Dental service in Houston, Dental care in Houston, Dental problems in Houston, Dental Implants in Houston, Dental practice in Houston, Family Dentistry in Houston, General Dentistry in Houston, Cosmetic Dentistry in Houston, Dental Crowns in Houston, Emergency Dental Care in Houston, Restore Implant Crowns in Houston, Zoom Whitening in Houston, Composite Fillings in Houston, invisalign in Houston, Occlusal guards in Houston, Sedation Dentistry in Houston, Pediatric Dentistry in Houston, Laser Dentistry in Houston, Prophy Basic Cleaning in Houston, Scaling and Root Planning in Houston, Oral Surgery in Houston, Root Canals in Houston, Orthodontics in Houston, Prosthodontics in Houston, Dental Crown Porcelain in Houston, Teeth straightening in Houston