What to Do with an Abscessed Tooth

Abscess arises as a complication of decay. Infection causes a pool of pus to form at the root of the tooth. Severe pain follows. If left unresolved, tooth abscess can cause tooth loss, blood infection or sepsis, and spread of the infection to other areas of the body.

Naturally, pain is the most common symptom of an abscessed tooth. Other symptoms include:

• Bitter taste in the mouth
• Breath odor
• General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling
• Fever
• Pain when chewing
• Sensitivity of the teeth to hot or cold
• Swelling of the gum over the infected tooth, swelling that may look like a pimple
• Swollen glands of the neck

If you suspect you have an abscess, you should see a dentist right away. The dentist will perform a full dental exam and consider an array of treatment options. These include:

• Antibiotics to fight the infection. Warm-water rinses may be advised, as they help with pain.
• Root canal. This treatment removes the dead or damaged pulp from inside the tooth, replaces it with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha, and restores the tooth with a cap or filling.
• Tooth removal. In cases of extreme severity, the tooth may not be salvaged.
• It is important to remember that an abscessed tooth does not have to be a dental emergency. Early detection is key. Upon experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should call our expert in treatment of Tooth pain in Los Angeles.

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