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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.advdentalarts.com or call Advanced Dental Arts: Rey Martinez DDS at (847) 223-5200 for an appointment in our Grayslake office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Family Dentist in Grayslake, IL.
Picking a toothbrush and toothpaste for a child is an important decision so tips from a family dentistry office can help when choosing. Brushing teeth twice a day is a child's first defense against tooth decay and gum disease. Picking the wrong toothpaste and toothbrush can leave their teeth exposed to plaque accumulation and worn…
When it is time for your child's first dental visit, it is advisable to get a kid friendly dentist that keeps the child comfortable and gives them the best experience possible. Ordinarily, getting a good dentist usually takes time, and it is even more challenging to get a kid-friendly dentist. In this article, you will…
Regular, preventive dental procedures from a family dentist are key to preventing oral diseases, maintaining healthy oral health, protecting your teeth from pain, and ensuring your smile can last a lifetime. Preventive dental procedures allow your dentist to monitor your oral health and locate any minor issues before they become painful, expensive issues that can…
If you have discolored, damaged teeth or are simply unhappy with how your teeth look, it is a good idea to ask a dentist about getting a smile makeover. This treatment involves a series of cosmetic dentistry procedures to improve the overall appearance of the teeth. Before having any work done, the first step is…
Scheduling a smile makeover treatment can help patients transform their smile.
Patients considering dental crowns may have concerns regarding the recovery period following the procedure.
When you visit a general dentist for a dental checkup, it is not only about…
If you have some imperfections on your teeth, and you want to improve your smile,…
Preventive dental procedures allow your dentist to monitor your oral health and locate any minor…
One of the unique benefits that dental implants can offer that other forms of tooth…
