What is a Dental Abscess?

A dental abscess is a symptom of bacterial infection that exhibits itself in the form of small, pus-filled swellings, either on the inside of the tooth or on the gum line around its base. When harmful bacteria is allowed to enter the system in some way, it goes to work infecting the soft tissue and central structure of the teeth, an abscess develops as the body tries to flush the toxins out. There are two types of abscess, periodontal and periapical, the main difference between the two is that one occurs inside the pulp chamber of the teeth (periapical) and the other forms along the gum line (periodontal) at the later stages of gum disease – periodontitis. Because they are the result of severe dental decay, periapical abscesses are much more common among adults in the UK, due to the fact that there are a great number of people who neglect their teeth and fail to keep them clean to an adequate degree. In some cases, the condition can become life-threatening, yet there are still people who would prefer to ignore painful symptoms than pursue medical treatment, by seeking assistance as soon as the problem becomes apparent, you can avoid more serious health complications and the pain associated with them. It’s also likely that you will need a course of antibiotics and some type of surgery, if you don’t speak to a medical professional as soon as possible.

What causes dental abscesses to develop?

It’s bacterial infection that causes dental abscesses, as the body tries to wash out the diseased area, small pockets of inflamed tissue start to form, which are filled with septic fluid. Although it is essentially the bacteria that are to blame for the infection, there are several different ways in which it manages to get into the body’s system.

Periodontal abscesses usually appear when gum disease has been left to progress without any kind of treatment, they develop as the gums around the roots begin to pull away, leaving a small space for bacteria and plaque to gather, this is called a periodontal pocket. Occasionally, these pockets can be formed accidentally, as a result of an injury or unsuccessful dental surgery, but more often than not it is due to bad oral hygiene. When periodontal pockets begin to form, it becomes very difficult to keep the areas clean and avoid bacterial infection, this is why you should immediately seek dental treatment if you notice any spaces appearing around the base of your teeth – don’t wait until the situation deteriorates further.

Periapical abscesses are much more common in the UK, simply because there is a large percentage of the adult population who don’t want to (or can’t) look after their teeth properly. Dental caries (better known as cavities) might not seem too problematic or painful at first, but eventually the decay will break through the tough outer layers of the teeth and allow bacteria to enter the pulp chamber, causing an infection called pulpitis. When this happens, the dentist has no choice but to remove the soft tissue that contains the blood vessels and nerve endings, to prevent the infection from travelling down the root and into the bone that houses the teeth. If this procedure is not carried out, a periapical abscess will form inside the pulp chamber, causing quite a lot of pain to the patient, and the infection can then spread to the central nervous system, possibly even affecting the major organs and putting the patient’s life in danger.

How can I treat a dental abscess?

There are several ways you can alleviate the pain associated with both types of dental abscess, but there’s nothing you can do to get rid of the infected tissue, you need to see your dentist as soon as you can. If you notice the first signs of gum disease (painless bleeding when you brush your teeth), you should contact your dentist straight away and make an appointment, but if you think your condition is more serious and needs immediate attention, you could give your local emergency clinic a call. The Pearl Dental Clinic operates a twenty-four hour emergency service, for problems that occur out of office hours, they can also organise a consultation during the day, if you can wait for a scheduled appointment. It’s a good idea to keep their contact details handy, and then you won’t be scrambling around for a phone number in the event of an emergency. Furthermore, don’t rely on the dentist if your health seems to be deteriorating, they can’t help you with serious infections or blood poisoning; you need to go to the hospital if you experience nausea, dizziness, or you develop a high fever – these are signs that your condition is more serious.

How can my dentist help with a dental abscess?

Periodontal abscesses can be treated by draining the infected fluid from the swelling, then cleaning out the pocket with anti-bacterial solution, to make sure the problem doesn’t reappear. Your dentist will also probably need to smooth out the exposed tooth root and remove the inflamed tissue around the periodontal pocket. This process is called scaling and planing, and it designed to physically remove the infection, whilst allowing healthy tissue to grow through from beneath it. It is also necessary to fight the bacteria from within, by using a course of antibiotics.

Periapical abscesses have to be treated with a root canal filling; it’s the only way to remove the infected tissue at the centre of the tooth. This means your dentist will have to drill in to the tooth and take out the dead pulp, before washing the chamber thoroughly to remove any remaining fragments or bacteria. It’s also necessary to re-shape the cavity, so that the filler material can fit comfortably and form an airtight seal around the exposed area. Your dentist will them add amalgam or composite bonding material to the hole, in order to keep the tooth functional, even if it is essentially dead inside. If the tooth is particularly unsightly, they may decide to fit a crown over the top of it, as both a protective device and a functional tool.