5017 196th St SW, #202
Lynnwood, WA 98036
(425) 778 5665
Abscessed Tooth
Dentist in Lynnwood
An abscess is an infected pocket of pus in a tooth and/or the surrounding bone and tissue. The most prevalent type of oral abscess occurs when the pulp inside the tooth dies. Subsequently, the dying pulp becomes susceptible to infection in and around the root of the tooth, which leads to an abscessed tooth.
If your tooth is so painful that it throbs, keeps you up all night, and impacts your daily life, you may have an abscessed tooth. To prevent the spread of infection, it is imperative that you visit the dentist at Lynnwood Dental Studio as soon as possible.
Symptoms of an Abscessed Tooth
Severe, persistent pain, sensitivity, facial swelling, swollen lymph nodes, fever, foul odor, and taste.
Causes of an Abscess Tooth
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If you have a deep cavity, advanced periodontal disease, or traumatized tooth, you are susceptible to an abscessed tooth because bacteria will have an opportunity to get down to the root of your tooth. When an abscess is small, it may go unnoticed but it will eventually bring about pain.
Risks of an Abscess Tooth
If an abscessed tooth is not treated, it can cause total tooth loss and the infection can also destroy the jawbone. Sometimes the infection can spread into your sinuses, head, and even neck. If left untreated long enough, your abscessed tooth can lead to sepsis.
Treatment for Abscessed Tooth
An abscessed tooth is usually treated with either root canal therapy or endodontic surgery. During endodontic surgery, the dentist will open the gum tissue near the abscessed tooth, remove the infected tissue, remove the tip of your tooth’s root and fill the root canal at the base of your tooth’s root. After your surgery, the surrounding bone will be able to heal.
If an abscess damages the tooth until it is beyond saving and requires extraction, a dental implant is one replacement option – but only if there is enough bone to anchor the implant
More About Abscess Tooth
Your maxillary sinuses are very close to your upper teeth. In some areas, only a sliver of tissue separates the upper tooth roots from the bottom of the sinus cavity. It’s no wonder that when there is a pain in that general area, the specific location can be hard to pinpoint.
When allergies, infections, and common cold irritate sinus tissues, tissues become swollen and infected, and it can affect the teeth. In extreme cases, swollen sinus tissues can actually move the teeth slightly, changing the bite. The reverse scenario can also transpire. The infection surrounding an abscessed tooth can easily travel to the sinus cavity.
How Can You Tell an Abscessed Tooth from a Sinus Infection?
Sinus pain generally manifests itself as a dull, continuous pain while the pain from an abscessed tooth increases in intensity. If you tap on an abscessed tooth, you will probably feel a sharp zap of pain.
If you have several sinus cavities, pain can emanate from any or all of them, so if you have infection in more than one sinus cavity, you may have pain behind the nose and eyes. As mentioned previously, it’s possible to be in a world of hurt with both issues – an abscessed tooth and a sinus infection.
Schedule Your Pain Relief Appointment
At Lynnwood Dental Studio we understand how painful and stressful it is to have an abscessed tooth, and our compassionate, patient, and highly-trained dentist Dr. Chintala will do everything she can to save your natural tooth. During a consultation, she will determine whether or not you need endodontic surgery to restore you to your optimal state of wellness, and relieve your pain.