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    Dental abscess

    Cardiology Image 1 Verified By Apollo Hospitals September 17, 2024

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    Dental Abscess – An Overview

    A dental abscess is a pocket of pus usually caused by a bacterial infection. The abscess can occur at different regions of the tooth for different reasons. It may occur at the tip of the root. A periapical tooth abscess can occur as a result of an untreated dental cavity, an injury or prior dental work. A dental abscess should be taken care of as soon as possible otherwise it can be extremely serious, even life-threatening.

    Dental Abscess Symptoms

    The most common signs and symptoms of a dental abscess are as follows:

    • Fever
    • Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
    • Swelling in your face or cheek
    • Sensitivity to the pressure of chewing or biting
    • Severe, persistent, throbbing toothache that can radiate to the jawbone, neck or ear
    • Tender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck
    • Sudden rush of foul-smelling and foul-tasting, salty fluid in your mouth
    • Pain relief if the abscess ruptures

    If you have some/any/all of the above symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.

    Dental Abscess Risk factors

    You may be at a higher risk of a tooth abscess if you have:

    • Poor dental hygiene: If you do not take proper care of your teeth and gums, not brush your teeth or floss regularly, you are at a higher risk of tooth decay, gum disease, tooth abscess, and other dental and mouth complications.
    • A diet rich in sugar: Eating and drinking foods rich in sugar very often can put at risk of getting to dental cavities that may turn into a tooth abscess.

    Dental Abscess Diagnosis

    In order to confirm your diagnosis of a dental abscess, your dentist will first thoroughly examine the affected area of the mouth. For this, he may:

    • Tap on your teeth: A tooth that has an abscess at its root is generally sensitive to touch or pressure.
    • Recommend an X-ray: An X-ray of the aching tooth can help identify an abscess
    • Recommend a CT scan: If the abscess has spread to other areas within the neck, a CT scan may be scan may be recommended

    Dental Abscess Treatment

    For treatment, your doctor may:

    • Perform a root canal treatment
    • Prescribe antibiotics
    • Open up (incise) and drain the abscess
    • Pull out the affected tooth

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