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Xavier Bourquin
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Dental abscess, what is it?
Dental abscess is a bacterial infection. It is characterized by swelling of the gums and difficulty chewing. Indeed, it can lead to serious complications if left untreated.
The different types of dental abscess
There are two types of dental abscesses:
The periodontal abscess, which comes from the gums and most often concerns patients suffering from dental loosening. Basal implantation is recommended for jaw reconstruction.
The apical abscess, which is linked to pain when chewing, is, in turn, caused by the fracture of a tooth, deep caries or by a tooth that has not been treated for a long time. The bacteria will then proliferate in the nerves of the tooth.
Symptoms of dental abscess
Symptoms of dental abscess are:
– A swollen gum that turns red and white
– Feeling hot, bleeding
– Pain due to chewing problems
– Bad breath can occur
– Headache, fever and fatigue.
Complications of dental abscess
It is possible that tooth loss occurs since the abscess can infect the bone that holds the tooth, and if there is too much bone destroyed (periodontitis).
A sinus infection: the abscess generates pus and can reach the sinuses.
A brain abscess: an infection that spreads from the teeth to the brain through the veins. A coma may occur.
Bacterial endocarditis occurs when bacteria from a dental abscess travels to the heart through blood vessels. It can sometimes have fatal consequences.
Treatments for dental abscess
Continue to brush your teeth despite bleeding and pain, possibly take paracetamol and resolve the problem quickly with a dentist / dental surgeon.
Very important ! Do not burst the abscess and avoid taking anti-inflammatories such as Voltarene or Ibuprofen which will increase the spread of the infection
Two types of processing are possible:
A local treatment, essential, carried out by the dental surgeon, which consists in carrying out the drainage of the infection: either by the opening of the tooth to reach the end of the roots, or by the extraction of the tooth. A prescription for antibiotics and analgesics will be necessary.
If the abscess comes from the gum instead, drainage or curettage can clean the infection. If the abscess has come out at the gumline and a collection of pus has formed, we will open this pocket and drain the pus. This will decrease the pressure and relieve the patient.
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