A dental abscess, or tooth abscess, is a painful bacterial infection caused by accumulation of pus, which can cause swelling and inflammation that forms at the root of a tooth or between the gum and a tooth.
Most infections are more likely to have been caused by poor dental health due to direct growth of bacteria within the root surfaces of a tooth into the supporting soft tissues and bones and can result from lack of proper and timely oral care.
It’s important to get help as soon as possible, because abscesses don’t go away without treatment.
Signs and symptoms include:
Throbbing pain or sharp or shooting pain in the affected area are common symptoms of an abscessed tooth
•Foul taste in the patient’s mouth
•Patient finds it harder to open his/her mouth
•Swallowing difficulties
Treatments for a dental abscess
The only person who can effectively treat a dental abscess is a dentist.
Treatment may involve typical dental procedures, and in some cases occasional surgery. Achieving drainage may be done through the tooth by a procedure known as root canal treatment.