If you’ve ever had a toothache, then you know the pain can be excruciating. In some cases, the pain you feel is caused by more than just your tooth. An abscess is an infection at the root of a tooth or between the root and the surrounding gum tissue. This infection can be quite serious—even life threatening—and, therefore, demands urgent care. If you or a loved one has a toothache, don’t play the waiting game. Contact an emergency dentist in Milpitas for immediate diagnosis and treatment.
An abscess usually begins when you have a large cavity. As the cavity grows and decay spreads deeper and deeper into your tooth, the pulp chamber and attached root canals fill with bacteria and become infected. Then, infection can spread beyond the roots of your tooth to the surrounding gum tissue and even the underlying bone structure that secures your teeth.
While severe pain is the primary symptom of an abscessed tooth, there are other signs, such as:
A dentist in Milpitas will probe your teeth and take a digital X-ray to accurately diagnose an abscessed tooth. The abscess will be evident on the X-ray, along with any bone erosion that the abscess has caused.
The abscess may need to be drained and a root canal will likely be necessary in order to eliminate the tooth infection that lead to the abscess.
During root canal therapy, the pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned, disinfected and filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha that will prevent further infection. The tooth is then sealed and prepared for a crown. You’ll also be given a prescription for an antibiotic in order to further treat the infection.
If you or a family member is experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms of an abscessed tooth, then please call your dentist immediately. We can provide the care you need to restore your oral health.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Sumity Sharma earned her dental degree from the Government College of Dentistry located in India. Since moving to the U.S. to practice dentistry, she’s taken the time to learn each of her patients’ needs and continues to offer the most advanced technology possible to improve their quality of care. To learn more about her practice, you can contact her through her website.
