Tooth decay causes damage to the core of a tooth, called the pulp. When this happens, the pulp can get infected and swollen, and pus may build up near or in the jaw bone. When left untreated, an abscessed tooth can cause other serious health problems such as destruction to surrounding tissue and bone.
The most common form of treatment for an abscessed tooth is a root canal, which involves removing the infected tissue, cleansing and sealing the canal of the tooth and then restoring the tooth with a crown or a cap.
An Abscessed Tooth Makes a Toothache Sound Pleasant!
There are no words strong enough (or appropriate to say to a general audience) which can describe the level of pain one feels when suffering a severe abscessed tooth.
Other abscessed tooth symptoms one will feel (when not focusing in on the pain) include a fever, sensitivity to hot or cold food and beverages, a bitter taste in the mouth, bad breath, redness & swelling of the gums, swollen neck glands and upper or lower jaw area, an open sore on the side of the mouth, general discomfort (such as uneasiness or even illness) and… of course… extreme pain, can we say OUCH!
An abscessed tooth will hurt when you eat, when you try to fall asleep, when you shower, when you watch TV, when you are driving… no matter what you are doing, it hurts!
Luckily, the pain may stop when the infection eats away enough bone to drain into your mouth. However, this does not mean “everything is okay now.” The infection continues to spread and destroy tissue. For that reason, it is absolutely critical to see a dentist if you are experiencing any of the previously mentioned symptoms… even if the pain does subside.
What to Do About an Abscessed Tooth in Chicago
The sooner you visit a dentist in Chicago for abscess tooth treatment, the sooner you will feel relief from the pain. Antibiotics are available to fight the infection, and you will also have a better chance of minimizing the destruction caused by an infection. Treatment strives to eliminate the infection and also preserve the tooth, if it is possible.
In most cases, an abscess tooth will need to be drained, and this is often done with a root canal. In some cases the tooth may need to be extracted, and in severe cases, (think worst case scenario) there may need to be an incision made in the swollen gum tissue to drain the infection.
For more information, please contact us at Big Smile Dental. We would be pleased to schedule a consultation.
