Is a Dental Abscess an Emergency?
Tooth abscesses should be treated by a dentist. Home remedies only alleviate the symptoms and are not an effective method of curing a diseased tooth. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs and various types of herbal mouthwashes that are supposed to reduce the visible swelling of the gums will not really solve the problem. You should also not pop a visible abscess yourself to remove any accumulated pus. If you notice the first disturbing symptoms related to toothache, you should go to the dentist as soon as possible. A quick reaction will prevent the development of the disease, we will also save ourselves unnecessary pain, and the treatment will probably be cheaper. If a tooth abscess develops, delaying a visit to the dentist only makes matters worse, therefore, while not a life threatening emergency right away, you need to make an appointment with a dentist as soon as you think you might have one.
In the treatment of dental abscesses, the basis is to remove the accumulated pus and extinguish the inflammation. Before starting treatment, your dentist may take an X-ray to check whether the infection has spread to other areas. In the case of a periapical abscess, the pus can often be drained during root canal treatment. During which the doctor will remove the diseased pulp and clean the canals, then fill them and rebuild the tooth crown. In some cases, the tooth is so damaged that its extraction or resection of the apex of the diseased root is necessary.
When the abscess develops to the subperiosteal or submucosal stage, the dentist cuts the abscess under general anesthesia so that the secretion can flow out freely until the lesion heals. Sometimes it is necessary to mechanically drain the accumulated pus. Sometimes it is necessary to insert a drain or drain into the lesion to prevent the drainage of pus from being blocked and the disease from recurring. After draining the purulent secretion, the dentist cleans the diseased area with physiological saline.
If the abscess ruptures before you go to the dentist, we should not abandon the visit. The dentist will clean the infected area and treat the tooth that caused the development of purulent inflammation. In addition, it will make sure that the infection does not spread. Treatment of a tooth abscess is often supported by antibiotic therapy, especially when the patient has a weakened immune system or the infection has spread beyond the area of the abscess.
In the prevention of abscesses, proper oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist are very important. They will allow you to cure disease lesions before they have a chance to develop properly. Thanks to this, we will maintain healthy dental pulp, which serves as a barrier against bacterial infection. To prevent the development of an abscess, we should make sure that caries does not attack our teeth. This can be done not only by brushing your teeth, but also by flossing the spaces between your teeth with dental floss or by removing plaque and tartar. Our diet also influences the development of tooth decay; a diet low in sugars helps maintain oral health.