p>As a painful infection between the gums and teeth or near the tooth’s root, an Abscessed Tooth results in throbbing and shooting pain. Many describe the pain associated with an abscessed tooth as a gnawing, severe toothache. Even so, symptoms of abscessed teeth range from general discomfort to open sores and rapid swelling. To better understand, consider the following indicators of an abscessed tooth:
- Fever
- Pain while biting or chewing
- Sensitivity to hot or cold
- Bad breath
- Bad taste in mouth
- Red, swollen or puffy gums
- Swollen upper or lower jaw
- Sores on gum tissues
Dental professionals want you to know–if you’re experiencing any of the above listed symptoms, it’s important to give you dentist a call, even if your pain starts to subside.
To diagnose an abscessed tooth, your dentist will likely begin by probing your tooth to check for pain. You may be asked to bite down as well. Generally, if you experience pain when your tooth is tapped or when you bite down, you may have an abscess. Even so, swollen, puffy gums are also strong indicators. Thus, your dentist will thoroughly examine your gums.
How Is An Abscessed Tooth Treated?
When it comes to treating an abscessed tooth, the goal of any dentist is to eliminate the infection and save the tooth. Getting rid of the infection may require that the abscess be drained. This can be done in several ways. For instance, root canal therapy can completely remove bacteria in the tooth’s root that is breeding infection. Tooth extraction, or removal, is another method. In this case, drainage would be allowed through the socket. For other cases, the dentist may opt to make a small incision into the infected gum tissue. Using a low laser light, patients can receive the incision comfortably.
Because the pain and discomfort of having an abscessed tooth can be severe, antibiotics and pain medications are often prescribed to relive the symptoms. Warm salt-water rinses are also recommended.
At Grateful Dental, we understand that a tooth abscess can vary from person to person. In some cases, this may require emergency dental treatment. If you suspect that you have an abscessed tooth, please give us a call. With sensitivity and compassionate care, Dr. Leia Porcaro and the staff at Grateful Dental will put you at ease and help eliminate your pain.
