A dental abscess is a painful and also potentially dangerous condition that requires immediate attention. This happens when a bacterial infection in the tooth, gum, or bone causes pus to collect. When untreated, a dental abscess can result in life-threatening complications such as systemic infection. It is critical to recognize the signs, understand what causes a dental abscess, and know how to handle the situation as advised by a dentist in Brookline, MA

Dental Abscess Symptoms

The first thing you need to do is notice the signs of a dental abscess so that it can be properly treated. The symptoms vary according to the location and severity of the infection but usually include:

Toothache: Localized pain, usually described as throbbing toothache or gum ache is the most common clinical symptom of a dental abscess. This discomfort can spread into the jaw, neck, or ear.
Swelling and Red Mouth: The gums surrounding the infection become swollen, and red becomes tender.
Sensitivity: Increased sensitivity to hot or cold foods, as well as pressure when chewing or biting — all of these signs point towards an abscess.
Fever: A dental abscess may lead to a low-grade fever as your body works on getting rid of the infection.
Swollen Lymph Nodes: As your body fights off infection you might experience swelling in the lymph nodes located under your jaw or on the sides of your neck.
Difficulty in Swallowing: Severe swelling due to an abscess may even partially block the airway, in which case swallowing or breathing is difficult.

Risks of Having a Dental Abscess

Not only is a dental abscess causing you pain but it also has some serious complications if not treated. Potential complications include:

Spread of Infection: The bacteria that trigger the abscess may spread to different areas in your body, like the jawbone (osteomyelitis), sinus cavities, or even into the bloodstream resulting very serious infection called sepsis.
Tooth loss: In serious cases, especially if the infection spreads to your jawbone or supporting tissue in the gums, you may need a tooth extraction.
Jawbone Damage: If the infection is left untreated, there can be a loss of bone supporting your teeth and long-term dental and structural consequences essentially.
Sinus Infection: A pus pocket in one of the upper teeth can cause a sinus infection that is very painful to endure.
Airway Obstruction: Swelling from an abscess can in extreme cases completely obstruct the airway.

Treatment for Dental Abscesses

The severity of the abscess will factor into how your dentist treats it when you go in. The treatment options are as follows:

Draining the Abscess: Your dentist can create a small cut in your abscess to allow pus out, thus relieving pressure. It is then cleaned well and treated with antibiotics to get rid of the infection.
Root Canal Therapy: If the abscess is at the root of your tooth, a dentist may suggest you undergo a root canal where they remove infected tissue while aiming to save it (the tooth). The tooth is usually capped with a crown following the procedure.
Tooth Extraction: When a tooth is too damaged or decayed due to an infection, sometimes extraction becomes necessary. This will be cleaned and a round of antibiotics will be given to stop the infection from continuing.
Antibiotics: As one of the other treatments, your dentist may also prescribe you antibiotics to help kill off the infection

A dental abscess can be a life-threatening situation so it certainly requires urgent care to avoid such complications. If you are aware of the signs and understand just how important it is to get emergency care in Brookline right away.