Dental Abscess- What's that?
When it comes to your mouth- you may have an emergency that can arise without warning. A dental abscess is exactly what it means- a pus filled swelling in your gums. With such an abscess, there are usually some signs and symptoms which can alert you to a potential problem and you can save valuable time in reaching out to us.
Signs that you have a Dental Abscess
A visible swelling/ pimple like fistula on your gum
Sudden unprovoked pain which can linger
Discomfort on chewing
Pus drainage
Bleeding gums
Unpleasant taste in your mouth
So what are your treatment options?
Temporary and emergency relief- After you have been diagnosed with a dental abscess by our specialists, you may be prescribed an antibiotic which can dull down the pain or makes it go away temporarily. You should finish the entire course of the antibiotics even though you may be tempted to stop once the pain disappears.
Permanent treatment- If your tooth has enough good healthy tissue left and can be saved, root canal treatment is a predictable procedure which gives you the benefit of saving the tooth. This is followed by cleaning of the gum under anaesthesia in the infection site and draining the pus. Our periodontist/ gum specialist may then place an antibiotic paste to help in faster healing. In case the tooth cannot be saved due to not enough healthy tooth structure- removal of the tooth/ extraction is sadly your only option. However, we will plan the long term replacement of the then missing tooth before we start the procedure. Replacing missing teeth is vital and unfortunately most people do not realise the importance of doing so.
For example, once you have a tooth removed and not replaced- the neighbouring and opposing teeth start to move towards the void in an effort to close the gap- this can significantly impact your bite negatively. Also having missing teeth can cause your face to sink in- making you look older and showing more wrinkles.
When it comes to the ability to save your abscessed tooth- time is of the essence ! At the first signs of such a condition, make an appointment and meet the specialists at Summit Dental Clinic.