Springtown

209 West Highway 199 Suite 100 Springtown, TX 76082

Blog

Dental hygiene tips for healthy teeth & gums

How Serious Is An Abscess Tooth?

An abscessed tooth refers to an infection caused by bacteria infecting the dental pulp that resides inside the dental enamel. Dental abscess manifests as a pocket of pus that is painful and can affect anyone, from children to senior citizens. An abscessed tooth is formed when bacterial infections find leeway to penetrate the dental pulp through the dental enamel. Abscess forms within 1 to 2 days of infection, and it should be treated within two weeks of its inception. 

The Severity of a Dental Abscess 
A dental abscess can be a severe oral health condition that must be treated explicitly by an endodontist. If left untreated, an abscess can disperse to other parts of the body such as the head, neck, jaw, and so forth. Moreover, a dental abscess is not a condition that will eventually go away on its own, and a dental abscess can last for months and even years without professional intervention. An increase in oral pain is one of the immediate repercussions of a dental abscess. 

If prompt care is not taken and the abscess persists for several weeks or months, it can result in cysts in the jawbone. It is noteworthy to remember that a cyst might require tooth extraction or even surgery for complete removal. Moreover, a dental abscess can also result in the formation of a fistula. Lastly, the deadliest repercussion of an abscess is sepsis. 

In conclusion, an abscess is a severe oral health condition requiring prompt treatment. Most dental abscesses are painful, so they are easily identifiable, and at times, a dental abscess may be painless. In such a scenario, you should look for other symptoms like gum swelling, toothache, fever, a sudden rush of foul-tasting and pungent-smelling liquid inside the mouth, and so forth. 

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!