How a Family Dentist Treats an Abscessed Tooth

Family Dentist Northvale, NJ

A family dentist is a professional who offers various general dentistry procedures to patients of all ages. Those who practice family dentistry can treat many serious dental concerns, including an abscessed tooth. In addition to being painful, an abscess can lead to further health concerns. Patients experiencing this issue should seek treatment right away.

Treatment options for an abscessed tooth

An abscess occurs when pus forms a pocket around an infected tooth root. While teeth have hard enamel and dentin on their outer layers, they house connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels. The tissue, known as the pulp, can become infected because of a deep cavity, cracked tooth, or gum disease. When a tooth becomes infected, it can kill the pulp and cause an abscess to develop.

A family dentist can diagnose and treat tooth abscesses in patients of any age.

Signs of an abscessed tooth

Abscessed teeth cannot heal themselves. One of the first signs of infection is pain. Patients may present with throbbing and gnawing pain or sharp and shooting pain. Some people may experience severe pain when biting down, while others may have continuous pain. Generally, a tooth infection causes temperature sensitivity that lingers long after removing the culprit.

Other symptoms individuals may face include:

  • Pain radiating through the neck, face, jawbone, and ear
  • Swelling of the jaw
  • Open sores on the gum
  • A bitter taste or foul-smelling breath from the abscess
  • Gum swelling and redness
  • Loose teeth

A stop to the pain does not indicate a healing infection. Sometimes, toothaches stop because the pulp in the tooth dies, killing the nerves. Even if a patient cannot feel the infection, it can continue spreading, destroying other tissues.

Treatments for an abscessed tooth

To diagnose an abscessed tooth, the family dentist will take an X-ray to determine the cause of the infection and the damage caused by the abscess. When it comes to treatment, dentists have various options available.

One option involves draining the abscess. The professional makes a small incision to release the pus. The dentist may place a small rubber drain to keep the area open if necessary.

One of the most common treatments for patients with an abscess is a root canal. The professional remove the inner pulp during this procedure and fills the space with material to seal it against further infection. Following the process, a patient should be able to return to normal. Some dentists will fit the patient with a crown to protect the root canal.

If dentists cannot save abscessed teeth, they may extract them instead. Sometimes, an extraction provides dentists with a way to drain the abscess. Many patients also take antibiotics to treat the infection, especially if it has spread to other areas of the mouth.

Conclusion

A family dentist can diagnose and treat a dental abscess for patients of all ages. When diagnosed with an abscess, most patients need either a root canal or tooth extraction.

Request an appointment here: https://www.brdental.com or call Bergen-Rockland Dental Associates, LLC at (201) 620-9576 for an appointment in our Northvale office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Family Dentist in Northvale, NJ.

Recent Posts

Family Dentist Treatments For A Chipped Tooth

Family dentists are trained in general dentistry services, which means they are prepared to help individuals with a number of issues, including chipped or broken teeth. Chipped teeth can become a serious problem if they go ignored. Because of this risk, it is necessary to consult with a family dentist as soon as a chip…

5 Benefits Of Choosing A Family Dentist In Northvale Close To Home

Want to understand the benefits of choosing a family dentist who can provide your family with the necessary dental services they need? One of the more important benefits of a family dentist is that they treat dental patients of all ages, which means they know which treatment options are ideal for children and which ones…

Visit Your Family Dentist To Treat A Cracked Tooth

If there is sudden pain in a tooth, a visit to a family dentist can determine if the tooth is cracked. Cracked teeth can occur in various fashions.Biting into something hard, like the pit of stone fruits, may cause a crack. So could a direct blow, possible in car accidents or street fights. Unassuming causes,…

Why Is A Pediatric Dental Check-up Important?

A pediatric dental check-up is more important than many parents realize. It allows us to ensure that a child's teeth are coming in properly and allows us to clean their teeth to prevent the likelihood of developing decay. Even young toddlers can develop tooth decay. In fact, it is so common that there is a…

Recent Posts

Adjusting To Your New Life With Dental Veneers

Adjusting To Your New Life With Dental Veneers

After getting dental veneers, you will want to have a plan for the next several days and weeks. Veneers are sometimes known as “instant orthodontics” because they can drastically reshape and whiten your teeth. It is very rare to experience side effects from dental veneers. However, it is possible that you will experience temperature sensitivity…

How Cosmetic Dentistry Can Address Stained Teeth

How Cosmetic Dentistry Can Address Stained Teeth

Almost everyone experiences a stained tooth throughout their lives, which is where cosmetic dentistry can be helpful. There are many different treatment options that fall under the cosmetic dentistry category, all of which can be used to transform, restore or renew teeth that are not in optimal condition. Stains often result in embarrassment or shame;…