A bacterial infection near the root of a tooth causes a tooth abscess. If left untreated, it can turn into a life-threatening condition. This condition is more common in people with poor dental health. For this reason, treating an abscess as a dental emergency at Newmarket is important.
Symptoms of an Abscess
An abscess causes persistent toothache, leading to jawbone, neck, or ear pain. It is accompanied by sensitivity to hot and cold and to pressure when chewing. You may also notice swelling in your face and tenderness around the lymph nodes. If the abscess ruptures, you will suddenly experience an unpleasant, salty taste, and the pain will cease.
When to See Your Dentist
You should see your dentist as soon as possible. If it occurs after office hours, you can wait until the following day to ask for an emergency appointment. However, you must seek an after-hours emergency appointment if you have a fever, severe swelling, or trouble breathing or swallowing. All these signs suggest that the infection impacts your jaw, other tissues in the mouth, or possibly even other parts of your body.
Treatment for Abscesses
To remove the tooth abscess, your dentist will need to drain it. It involves making a small incision and washing the area with saline solution. If it is possible to save the tooth, you will receive root canal therapy. Your dentist will drill down through the tooth, remove the diseased tissue in the pulp, and seal the pulp chamber and channel. If the infection is too severe, your dentist must remove your tooth.
Your dentist will then assess whether the infection has spread beyond the part of your mouth where the abscess is formed. If it has, you will receive antibiotics to cure the rest of the infection.