Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed tooth, or periapical abscess, is a painful condition caused by infection in a badly decayed and/or damaged tooth. An untreated, severe cavity, a deep filling, or trauma to the tooth can cause an abscessed tooth. Once the nerve dies in a badly damaged tooth, infection can cause a fluid buildup where the soft pulp tissue lies in the center of the tooth. The pressure and swelling can be quite painful. Touching the tooth will cause pain. An abscessed tooth is usually not sensitive to the cold, because the nerve is dead (or almost dead). Usually cold can make the tooth feel better because it causes the swelling to reduce some, which causes less pressure. Eating may be very painful and the gums may be swollen and red. Smile 32 Dental Center recommends immediate treatment for this painful condition.

Treatment for an Abscessed Tooth

Your dentist at Smile 32 Dental Center must eliminate the infection and attempt to preserve as much of the tooth as possible. Treatment of an abscessed tooth is often a root canal, which removes the nerve and pulp center of the tooth. The root is saved and some of the surface structure, and then filled and fitted with a dental crown. If a tooth is too badly damaged to save, your dentist at Smile 32 Dental Center may have to extract the tooth.

Care for An Abscessed Tooth

If an abscessed tooth is caught before the infection spreads too far, we can perform a root canal and save the tooth. An untreated abscess can lead to total loss of the tooth, and can spread infection to other teeth, the gums, jaw and other areas of the body. Our goal at Smile 32 Dental Center is to save as much of your original tooth structure as possible.