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Treatment
options for a
tooth abscess
A dental abscess is always a serious condition because the infection may spread to other parts of the body.
Left untreated, an abscess may compromise the immune system and in some cases may become life-threatening.
It's extremely important to begin the tooth abscess treatment as soon as possible because a smaller abscess is much easier to treat.
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Abscess tooth treatment
Before the development of many modern dental procedures, extraction was the only way to treat an abscessed tooth.
The goals of tooth abscess treatment are the elimination of the infection, treatment of the condition that caused it,
preservation of the tooth, and prevention of complications caused by the abcessed tooth.
The treatment of dental abscesses is performed by dentists or endodontists. More than one office visit may be necessary in treating an abscessed tooth.
The procedure of tooth abcess treatment may include:
Draining the abscess.
Treating an abscessed tooth begins with draining the pus created because of the tooth infection.
This usually relieves pain and removes much of the infection.
Once an abscess is drained, the pressure is released and this often provides a great relief of the symptoms.
Abscesses can be drained in a number of ways.
If the abscess is in the gums, drainage is done by an incision through the gum tissue.
If it is a periapical abscess around the tooth root, draining requires an opening made through the tooth during a procedure known as root canal treatment.
If the tooth is too damaged for a root canal treatment, the dentist may decide to extract the tooth, which will allow the drainage of the abscess through the socket.
Treating the source of the infection,
by removing the dead or infected tissue. This may include:
Root canal treatment, in an attempt to preserve the tooth.
The procedure involves removing diseased tissue from the center of the tooth, including the nerve and vascular tissue (pulp),
along with decayed portions of the tooth.
The area is then filled with a material called gutta percha.
Finally the tooth is covered with a filling or crown. Root canal treatment saves many abcessed teeth that would otherwise need to be extracted.
Root canal is the most common and effective treatment of dental abscess.
Tooth extraction. If an abscess is severe, a tooth or the jaw is badly damaged and a root canal procedure will not likely save the tooth,
a tooth extraction may be necessary.
An extraction should be considered only as a last resort and not as an alternative of root canal treatment.
An extraction will lead to the need of a bridge or an implant, increasing the overall cost of the treatment.
Keeping your natural teeth as long as possible is nearly always the best course of action.
A gum abscess can be successfully treated with tooth scaling and root planing.
Since most cases of gum abscesses are due to periodontitis (gum disease), treatment should be part of an overall periodontal (gum) treatment program.
However, if the underlying gum disease is severe, treatment may also involve periodontal surgery.
The total cost of all these dental treatments is significant and many patients can not afford it
if they are not covered by their dental insurance.
Learn how to choose a dental insurance plan that will help you provide the best dental treatment to yourself and your family.
Preventing abscess tooth complications.
This includes preventing infection from spreading to other areas of the body, as well as reducing pain and swelling.
Medication. The dentist may decide to prescribe antibiotics for a few days before starting the treatment, especially if there is extensive swelling.
However, an antibiotic will not clear the pus or eliminate the infection until the pus is drained.
Painkillers may also be prescribed to relieve pain related to the abscess or its treatment.
Antibiotics use for a few days after draining the pus could also help to clear any remaining infection.
Follow-up x-rays. X-rays are recommended six months after treatment of an abscess to confirm that bone and tissue have appropriately
regenerated in the treated area. If not, additional periodontal or endodontic treatment may be needed.
Home remedies for tooth abscess can offer some temporary pain relief:
Saltwater rinse. Rinsing the mouth with a warm saltwater solution can help cleanse the mouth, encourage drainage and relieve some of the pain.
This is suggested for several times a day for a few days after treatment of a dental abscess (especially for gum abscesses)
Ice pack outside the cheek. Helps to reduce facial inflammation.
In the case of dental abscesses, home remedies can not solve the problem and it is very important to seek a dentist as soon as possible.
Tooth abscess home treatments should be used only to relieve the symptoms until your dentist appointment, not to delay it.
Never expect a tooth abcess to be cured just with home treatments.
You must know that some treatments are not always covered by dental insurance plans.
Learn how to check the terms and choose a dental insurance plan that will provide the best coverage for you and your family.
Abscess tooth complications
A tooth abscess if detected promptly is usually curable with proper treatment. The tooth can be saved with root canal treatment if its structure is not badly damaged.
In some cases, when the tooth infection causes little or no pain, people ignore it and wait for it to go away.
If the pus is not drained and the infection is left untreated, serious complications may develop.
Abscessed tooth complications may include:
Loss of the tooth
Spread of infection to soft tissue (facial cellulitis, Ludwig's angina )
Spread of infection to the jaw bone (osteomyelitis of the mandible or maxilla)
Sinusitis - spread of infection to the nearby sinus in the face bone.
Spread of infection to other areas of the body resulting in Cavernous sinus thrombosis (swelling and blood clotting in the veins behind the eyes), endocarditis, pneumonia, or other disorders
Dental abscesses that have extended to the floor of the mouth or to the neck can become life-threatening,
blocking the airway and causing difficulty breathing.
Dental cysts in the jaw bones that have to be removed surgically.
Tooth abcess symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, are indications of severe tooth abscess complications; see your doctor immediately.
In the years before WWII and the discovery of penicillin, it was not uncommon for patients to die from complications of tooth infections.
Related dental problems and treatments:
How to Prevent abscessed teeth & gums
Dental abscesses are common in people with poor dental health and result from lack of proper and timely dental care.
The best way to prevent dental abscesses is by following good oral hygiene practices along with regular dental cleanings.
Following a proper daily oral hygiene routine by regular teeth brushing and flossing will remove dental plaque that causes tooth decay (main cause of a tooth abscess) and gum disease (main cause of a gum abscess).
Dental cleanings also help to prevent dental abscesses by removing the build-up of dental tartar from teeth and reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Protect your teeth from injuries as they could potentially lead to tooth infections (wear mouthguards during sport activities, stop teeth grinding etc). Do not leave a cracked or chipped tooth untreated.
Regular visits to the dentist will ensure that any tooth decay is discovered early and treated promptly before the nerve is affected. In this case a simple filling will be enough to prevent further problems of developing a dental abscess.
Almost all dental insurance plans cover the cost of two preventive dental visits per year.
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