Dental abscess: what it is, causes and treatment

Dental conditions are usually very annoying, noticeable and the result of careless hygiene in many cases. We tend to ignore them, perhaps due to the inertia of human instinct, but this can’t go on like this. Do you really know why?

The answer is reflected in this article, in order to study dental abscesses , their causes and the treatment required for it.

What is a dental abscess?

A dental abscess is also known as odontogenic abscesses , they are a series of lumps or inflammations with a large accumulation of pus that develop within the oral area , if the infection is not treated, it spreads to the tip of the dental root.

Dental abscesses are mainly caused by the contact of bacteria in the mucous areas of the mouth, when there is an injury or an open wound that allows the passage of this, but it must be remembered that it is not a symptom of a disease, but of defense of the body against bacterial infection.

Note: According to a dental analysis, it is known that “Depending on their origin, dental or odontogenic abscesses have been defined as endodontic or periapical abscess, periodontal abscess, or pericoronal abscess” . (1)

Types of dental abscesses

There are two specific types of dental abscesses, one of them is quite common in the population. Ready to know about them? We present the main types:

1. Gingival abscess

The dental abscess has a gingival or periodontal character and they are the ones that occur a lot in people. For what reason?

This is the inflammation that occurs in the spaces of the tooth and gum (the dental pulp and soft tissues), mainly when food gets stuck between them and is not removed for a long time, resulting in the breakdown of the gum. food inside the tooth Severe periodontal is when the bacteria spreads from the gum to the bone.

Important: According to a clinical case, the following is briefly mentioned “Tooth loss is caused by various factors such as advanced periodontal disease and periodontal abscesses such as gingival type.” (two)

2. Periapical abscess

The periapical abscess is the main dental abscess (so known in medicine), where the infection can penetrate the tooth if it spreads.

It is characterized by occurring inside the tooth, where the nerve of the tooth dies or deteriorates, appearing in the form of abscesses at the tip of the root of the tooth, managing to spread throughout the bone, do not disappear on their own and can become chronic . , but above all, extremely painful.

Important: Immediate treatment is required for a periapical abscess, as spreading will damage the surrounding bones and teeth.

What causes a tooth abscess?

The cause of an abscess, both in the teeth and in other parts of the body, is simple: the body’s response to a bacterium, but how does that bacterium actually get into the mouth? Here we present the main causes of this:

1. Deep cavities

Caries are demineralizations of the tooth, as a consequence of bacteria on the surface of the tooth. But they have exactly four degrees of expansion.

In the third and final stage they are known as deep cavities; it is where the condition has reached the pulp , beginning to consume its vitality, the result, in addition to frequent pain, can lead to the loss of the tooth or a mobile sensation of it.

Important: A clinical management urgently mentions that “The deep carious lesion due to the possibility of pulpal involvement, is a clinical picture of special significance and permanent validity” . (3)

2. Dental injuries

Dental injuries or dentoalveolar traumatisms are a large series of spectacular accidents in the oral area, which are of great public health care.

They are diverse, but they frequently occur in supporting tissues (periodontium) and dental tissues (including bones, lips, and oral mucosa), caused by occupational accidents, sports, among others.

To highlight: The best known are the fracture of the dental crown, dislocations, subluxations or root fractures. And an analysis mentions that “dental traumatisms represent one of the most serious public health problems among children and adolescents.” (4)

What are the symptoms of a dental abscess?

It is very easy to recognize the symptoms of a dental abscess, however it is not desirable for any person or patient with these pathologies. Here are the symptoms to watch out for:

1. Pain, inflammation and fever

The pain is very common, it is persistent because the bacteria affects the dental nerves through swelling and their expansion, which causes internal deterioration and around the gums.

Note: Inflammation of the soft tissues also occurs and sometimes a certain level of fever may occur, due to the drop in defenses, when the body is still fighting a possible and alarming disease.

2. Sensitivity to hot and cold

Has it ever happened to you that you eat ice cream and when it comes into contact with your tooth it starts to hurt? This is because we suffer from an incredible sensitivity , which is also influenced by hot things.

Dental sensitivity is when the dentin or enamel is exposed due to wear , the result of gum disease, making the nerves of the tooth very susceptible and causing sharp pain.

Note: It is different with whitening because they are adverse effects, if there is no such treatment, you already know what it can be.

3. Bad breath

Also known as halitosis (a dental name), it is more than frequent in poor hygiene and dental health, so it should not be ruled out.

Periodontal disease and the factors related to it are a main cause, mixed with the fact that the presence of food residues still stagnant in the mouth is a clear reason for suffering from bad breath. Watch out for it and always floss.

4. Bitter taste

Not only the teeth and gums are affected by a dental abscess, their surroundings can be just as involved in it, such as the tongue.

It is normal to feel a bitter taste , but with quite noticeable frequency and without any change, since the tongue (especially if you notice it very white) can be full of microorganisms that affect your taste buds, mainly during the increase in tooth decay or of gingivitis.

5. Swollen glands

If the lymphatic system looks merely deteriorating, that’s a sign of concern. The ganglions belong to the lymphatic system that transports the lymph, the substance necessary to prevent the appearance of germs thanks to the white blood cells that it possesses.

Important: If the lymph nodes appear inflamed, from whatever location, it is because a virus or bacteria entered the body, it can then be related to the dental lump.

How to cure a dental abscess?

Fortunately, due to the certain frequency that these events appear, there are very effective treatments and cures. To finish we will teach you what are the ways to cure a dental abscess:

1. Drainage

Draining the accumulation of pus is essential, but do not think about doing it manually, you need the help of a specialist , so make that appointment.

To highlight: With the required tools and a little local anesthesia, you will be able to remove or drain the abscess, unlike other cases it must be meticulously drained.

In this sense, the dental specialist completely cleans the area, places anesthesia and proceeds to drain the pus inside the abscess with the help of a small but strong incision.

2. Root canal treatment

Also called endodontics, it is the treatment that seeks to remove dead tissues or nerves from the tooth due to the bacteria, in order to save the tooth as a last option.

Note: It can be carried out from one to several sessions, as occurs with dental implants, since it will seek to access the interior of the dental chamber, extract the dead tissue to later clean it and make a new filling for its recovery.

3. Part removal

In case surgical operations such as root canal treatment do not work, and if the patient wishes, an extraction of the infected tooth is done to prevent the spread of the bacteria.

This also allows more space in the gums to wash them and apply microsurgery to restore vitality, eliminating residues or microorganisms still existing in them.

4. Antibiotic and analgesic drugs

As always, antibiotics and analgesics can help reduce symptoms and improve the affected dental area, they should never be ruled out. Pain relievers work to decrease pain and inflammation.

For their part, antibiotics will serve as a complement to the treatment, to eliminate pathogens found in the oral area, as well as reduce the wide range of possibilities for the appearance of another abscess.

To highlight: Some antibiotics used are penicillin vk, clindamycin, clavulanic acid amoxicillin and metronidazole.

Key Findings

• A dental abscess is the inflammation of a lump within the oral cavity.
• The dental abscess can be of the gingival or periapical type, caused by caries, a bacterial infection or lesions in the mouth.
• It is manifested by the appearance of intense pain, sensitivity to cold or heat and can also cause inflammation in the lymph nodes.
• These lumps can be cured with effective treatments that include drainage, root canal treatment and even the use of drugs.