Generally, most people don’t like to be in pain—but it can be unavoidable. Sadly, some of the most intense pain originates from our mouths. It can hinder our ability to eat and smile, and simply make us miserable. To make matters worse, when an infections does occur in our mouth, it may swell and fill with pus. This is known as an abscess. While your body will do its best to fight the infection, you will probably need to visit our team to have an abscess addressed.
There are two types of abscesses that can form. First is a gum abscess. This is an infection that occurs in between the tooth and the gum. The second kind of abscess is a tooth related abscess and it occurs in your actual tooth. This happens when the nerve is dead or dying and shows itself at the tip of the root.
These are several symptoms of an abscess. These symptoms include a fever, pain when chewing, sensitivity to hot or cold, a bitter taste in your mouth, bad breath, swollen neck glands, discomfort, redness or swelling of your gums, and more! That is why it is vital to make sure you see your dentist if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.
Treatment of an abscessed tooth can be complicated, however the goal is to eliminate the infection, preserve the tooth, and prevent complications. Our dentist will first need to drain the abscess and she will perform root canal therapy. A crown will then be placed over the tooth to protect it from further damage.
If you worry that you may have an abscessed tooth, we recommend getting to our dentist right away. Dr. Pam Crumrine and our team are highly qualified and will help with any issue you may have. Just call Pamela Crumrine DDS at 724-775-4860 to schedule an appointment. We are eager to hear from you.
