I Have a Toothache … Help!

Have you ever had lingering cold sensitivity on a tooth? Have you been awakened by a throbbing pain? Chances are that you might have a dental abscess, which is a collection of infected material and bacteria. An abscess is caused by an infection that stems from tooth decay, periodontal disease or a cracked tooth. When the enamel of a tooth becomes compromised, bacteria has the opportunity to infiltrate the tooth and cause an infection in the pulp, or center. This infection causes a collection of pus and tissue inflammation that causes pressure and ultimately pain.   The main types of dental abscesses are:

• Periapical abscess– An infection located at the apex or tip of the root of a tooth
• Periodontal abscess- An infection located alongside of a tooth
• Gingival abscess– An infection that only involves the gum tissue
• Pericoronal abscess- An infection that involves the soft tissue surrounding the crown of a tooth

If an infected tooth is left untreated, the abscess may become large enough to damage surrounding bone and tissue leading to an extraction.  possibly a more advanced infection that can spread beyond the oral cavity. While a tooth may temporally stop hurting, the pain will eventually come back, often times stronger than the first time. Signs and symptoms of an abscessed tooth can include any of the following:

• Sensitivity
• Pain (extreme or growing pain)
• Throbbing, sharp, or dull ache
• Swelling
• A visible abscess
• Draining of pus
• Bad breath/taste

It is extremely important to treat an infected tooth properly. Under most circumstances, a root canal is required to eliminate the infection and restore the tooth back to a healthy state. Sometimes the tooth itself needs to be extracted in order to eliminate the source of the infection. Regardless of the course of treatment, which is decided between you and your dentist, there are severe repercussions to not treating an abscess. Some possible complications include:

• Sepsis
• Loss of the tooth and/or surrounding structure
• Facial cellulitis
• Osteomyelitis of the jaw
• Endocarditis
• Pneumonia
• Brain abscess

In the past years through technological advancement, the root canal procedure has advanced tremendously and now requires fewer appointments than ever.  During root canal therapy, the infection is carefully removed, and the canals are cleaned and disinfected. The canals are then re-filled with a rubber-like material called “gutta-percha.” Once the root canal treatment has been completed, completing the tooth with some sort of permanent restoration such as a crown is vital. This is because once the pulp of a tooth is removed, which occurs when the infection is cleaned out, the tooth’s structure becomes brittle and prone to fracture. This of course can be avoided by staying on course with your recommended treatment plan.

If you feel like you may have an abscessed tooth, it is vital for you to contact your dental provider immediately and begin treatment as soon as possible. This is essential not only for the health of the tooth, but for your overall health!