Many people are reluctant or fearful of visiting the dentist, which leads them to postpone care until their toothache becomes unbearable. Unfortunately, delaying dental care can result in further discomfort and even potentially fatal medical complications.
We must first comprehend what an abscess is to grasp why a tooth abscess is so harmful and what procedures the dentist might take to treat it.
What is an Abscess?
An abscess is an infection of the gums and surrounding soft tissue. It begins when bacteria proliferate in a gap between the tooth and the gums, a left neglected cavity, or a crack in the tooth enamel.
How Does an Abscess Affect the Body?
If left unattended, an abscess will consume the tissue around it and transfer bacteria to other body parts. Some of the most perilous indications of an infection progressing are:
Sepsis
Sepsis is the term used to describe the state when the infection affects the blood. People with compromised immune systems, such as the sick, the old, and children, are especially at risk from sepsis. People who have undergone trauma, such as surgery, which briefly impairs disease resistance, are also included. Sepsis symptoms include a high fever, clammy skin, rapid heartbeat and respiration, disorientation, speech difficulties, unconsciousness, and death.
Ludwig’s Angina
Pain, swelling, trouble breathing and swallowing, drooling, weakness, fever, chills, fatigue, inflammation of the jaw and neck, earache, and forgetfulness are all symptoms of a bacterial infection in the tissues under your tongue.
Meningitis
Meningitis’ early symptoms, such as fever, vomiting, and migraines, resemble the flu. Blood tests and lumbar punctures, which include taking a sample of cerebral fluid to confirm the presence of a viral or bacterial infection, are used by doctors to diagnose meningitis.
When Do I Need Emergency Dental Care?
A toothache may not always signify an abscess. Consider an appointment when pain lasts over a few days or is accompanied by symptoms like fever, swelling, persistent poor breath, a bitter taste, or apparent infections. Keep getting treatment from a dentist if no quick appointment time is available. To stop a disease from progressing and jeopardizing your health, find a 24-hour emergency dentist.
Treatment Options
It’s imperative to treat any injured tissue in and around the tooth and eliminate the abscess. But because an infection can prevent the numbing medication from working, the dentist may first treat the infection by prescribing antibiotics.
Urgent tooth extraction is another option. There are cosmetic options to close the gap if the tooth’s position causes you discomfort, such as:
1. A dental bridge (either a fixed prosthesis attached to your jawbone or a removable denture that replaces the lost tooth)
2. A dental implant will function and feel like natural teeth despite requiring surgery.
3. Partial dentures can be the answer if the illness spreads to more than one tooth.
4. A full set of dentures can lessen the damage and stop further abscesses if the jaw bones are damaged, as with long-term drugs that leach minerals from the bones.
source: https://myemergencydental.com/does-an-abscess-require-emergency-dental-care/
Comments
Download this infographic.