Do you have a dental abscess

Are you experiencing severe pain in your mouth? Is your face or mouth swollen?

A dental infection is a serious problem and they can occur any time of the day or night. When they do occur, they need to be treated quickly to prevent the spread of said infection. Many patients who have a dental infection will be in an immense amount of pain and will experience swelling in most cases. While you may want to ignore the infection altogether, you should not, as this can lead to spread of the infection into the blood stream, which then makes it deadly if it spreads to your heart or brain.

Dr. Song has many years of experience with dental infections and will provide you with a complete exam to diagnose and recommend treatment for the infection. A proper treatment plan MUST be followed to stop the infection and heal it.

When we discuss dental infections, we are also talking about abscesses that can form in the mouth. An abscess is considered a swollen area within your body’s tissues. The abscess itself will often contain pus and drain on its own many times. If you have an abscess, Dr. Song will create an incision along it to ensure proper and complete draining of the pus, so that healing can begin.

When you have a drainage procedure performed, you will receive a local anesthetic to numb the area. This will help prevent any pain and the abscess can be properly drained and cleaned with a saline solution that is sterile. Once the abscess has been drained and cleaned, you will need to come back in for follow up visits until the abscess is completely gone.

One of the good things about the drainage procedure is that the pain you are experiencing will be gone once the procedure has been performed. You will notice relief and will not feel pressure on the spot any more. The healing process is usually quick and you may need to take some antibiotics to help assist the healing. It is unlikely that you will develop any type of scarring from the incision or abscess, but it can occur.

Dr. Song is here to discuss your options with you and the drainage procedure, so do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with Access Dental Care today.

What Type of Abscess Do I Have?

Did you know that there are different types of abscesses? In fact, there are two main types. The first type is called a gum abscess or may be referred to as a periodontal abscess by Dr. Song. This type of an abscess will cause you pain and irritation and appears on the outside of the tooth at the gum line. This abscess is typically caused as a results of food being trapped under the gum or between your teeth. The infection will begin to swell and any pressure placed on the tooth will cause pain. Typically, you can feel the abscess too, as there will be a large bump on the gum.

The second type of abscess that you may receive is called a periapical abscess and this is an abscess within the tooth, on the top of the root. This abscess is usually associated with a dying tooth or tooth that is severely infected. Once Dr. Song looks at your tooth, he can offer the appropriate treatment plan for it.

No matter which type of abscess you have, you will experience pain and the infection can spread to your jaw. When this happens, you face major complications and the abscess must be treated quickly.

Symptoms: What to Expect

If you are worried that you may have an abscess, it is important to check your symptoms and note any changes in your oral health. Some of the most common symptoms include the following:
• A lump or pimple like bump on your gums
• Swelling and pain, especially when you bite down or place pressure on your tooth
• Redness within your mouth or on your face
• Difficulty when chewing and swallowing
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever

If you think you have an abscess you need to call our office IMMEDIATELY. If an abscess is not handled in time, it can quickly spread to other areas of your body and in extreme cases, lead to death.

What Causes an Abscess?

You may be wondering what actually causes an abscess that has formed in your mouth. There are a few reasons why one may have formed and the best prevention is proper oral care. Some of the most common causes include:
• A diet that is high in sugar
• Poor oral hygiene
• An infection within the nerve of the tooth
• Severe tooth decay

One of the best things you can do for yourself is have regular checkups performed every six months and avoid eating too much sugar.

How Can I Alleviate Pain?

If you indeed have an abscess, it is likely that you will experience pain and a lot of it. Sometimes, abscesses are not painful, so you may not even know it is there. Most patients experience some degree of pain and the pain will continue to grow in intensity until the problem is handled.

If you are looking for ways to alleviate the pain, you can use a hot pad on the side of your face where the heat is. You may want to rotate between hot and cold packs to ensure swelling is minimized and your pain is alleviated. If needed, you can take an over the counter medication to help minimize any pain you may feel.

One thing we do recommend is that you do NOT touch or pop the abscess on your own, as this can cause more complications and make the infection worse.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you are interested in scheduling a dental checkup with us or you think you may have a dental abscess, call Access Dental Care now and schedule an appointment with Dr. Song.