All posts by : Kara Urland

A dental abscess is a collection of pus that can form inside the teeth, in the gums, or in the bone that holds the teeth in place. It’s caused by a bacterial infection. Dental abscesses are often painful, but not always. In either case, they should be looked at by a dentist.

It’s important to get help as soon as possible, as abscesses do not go away on their own.

Treatment options: 

• Open and drain the abscess: The dentist will make a small incision into the abscess, allowing the pus to drain out, and then wash the area with saline. 
• Perform a root canal: This can help eliminate the infection and save your tooth. To do this, your endodontist drills down into your tooth removes the diseased central tissue (pulp), and drains the abscess. They will then fill and seal the tooth’s pulp chamber and root canals. The tooth may be capped with a crown to make it stronger, especially if this is a back tooth. If you care for your restored tooth properly, it can last a lifetime.
• Pull the affected tooth: If the affected tooth can’t be saved, your dentist will extract the tooth and drain the abscess to get rid of the infection.
• Prescribe antibiotics: If the infection is limited to the abscessed area, you may not need antibiotics. But if the infection has spread to nearby teeth, your jaw, or other areas, your dentist will likely prescribe antibiotics to stop it from spreading further. They may also recommend antibiotics if you have a weakened immune system.

How do I know if I have an abscess? 

The main symptoms of an abscess in your tooth or gum may include:

• an intense throbbing pain in the affected tooth or gum that may come on suddenly and gets gradually worse
• pain that spreads to your ear, jaw, and neck on the same side as the affected tooth or gum
• pain that’s worse when lying down, which may disturb your sleep
• redness and swelling in your face
• a tender, discolored, or a loose tooth
• shiny, red, and swollen gums
• sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink
• bad breath or an unpleasant taste in your mouth

If the infection spreads, you may develop a fever and feel generally unwell. In severe cases, you may find it hard to fully open your mouth and have difficulty swallowing or breathing. 

Periodontal Infection:

A periodontal abscess usually results from periodontitis or gum disease and is more common among adults. Gum disease is an infection and inflammation of the tissues around the teeth. As gum disease progresses, the bacteria gain access to deeper tissues.

You’re more likely to develop tooth infections if you:

• Smoke: Smokers are about twice as likely to get tooth infections as nonsmokers.
• Have dry mouth: Bacteria thrive in a mouth with a low amount of saliva.
• Have poor dental hygiene: Regularly brushing, flossing, and getting dental cleanings reduces bacteria.
• Have a weakened immune system: Diseases or medications can lower your immune response, making it harder to fight off germs.

If you think you have an abscess, you should see a dentist as soon as possible to avoid severe symptoms from the infection. While you are waiting to see a dentist, over-the-counter pain relievers can help control your pain. While ibuprofen is the preferred pain reliever for dental abscesses, other over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen can offer temporary relief.  While these medications help with pain, they do not cure the abscess so you should not use them to delay treatment

Contact our office to schedule an appointment or to answer any questions you may have. 

Sometimes, a tooth doesn’t respond and heal as expected after a root canal. Retreatment of the root canal may be required with an endodontic appointment. 

This may be for a variety of reasons such as:

• Root canals that are narrow or with curved canal systems that were not treated during the original procedure
• Complex root canal anatomy that was undetected during the initial procedure
• During the first procedure, the canal system may have been contaminated from the crown not being placed quickly enough
• Saliva may have been introduced into the tooth from improper restoration causing contamination
• A new infection brought on by new tooth decay that can expose the root canal filling to bacteria
• Crowns or filling material can become loose, cracked, or broken exposing the tooth to new infection

It may be necessary in those cases to perform a second root canal treatment. The second root canal will likely be more complicated or challenging than the first one, requiring an endodontist.

During this procedure, the filling material must be removed from the canal, and the endodontist will explore new or untreated root canals. Retreatment procedures usually require an operating microscope, ultrasound, and digital imaging. Once completed, the root system is sealed with new canal filling material. Repeat root canal treatments are often completed with endodontic surgery.

All available options and appropriate treatments will be discussed with you and your endodontist will provide the best recommendations based on your specific treatment needs. Contact our office Cumberland Valley Endodontics if you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation.

First, what is a root canal? A root canal cleans out the decay in your tooth’s pulp and root.

Your teeth have an enamel layer on the outside, a second layer of dentin, and a soft inside core that extends into the root in your jawbone. The core contains the dental pulp, which consists of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue.

When decay gets into the soft core, the pulp can become inflamed or infected, or even necrotic (dead). A root canal is needed to clean out the decay.

So, how do you know if you need a root canal? Are there telltale signs?

Tooth sensitivity to cold or heat can indicate the need for a root canal.

You may experience tooth sensitivity as a result of inflamed and infected tooth nerves that become hypersensitive to cold or hot food or drinks. The sensation occurs as a dull ache that can lead to sharp, intense pain. The discomfort can linger after you’ve stopped eating or drinking. 

Sensitivity to heat can often times be a telltale sign for needing a root canal.

Sore / Swollen Gums

Soreness that occurs when you eat or put pressure on the affected area can also indicate the presence of infected tooth nerves that require a root canal for relief. If you’ve noticed that your gums are swollen it may be a sign of an infected tooth. The swollen gums will be tender and a bit painful to the touch and will remain swollen. 

Benefits of getting a root canal

Root canals are among the most common dental procedures. Thanks to root canals, many patients can keep their natural teeth that they may have otherwise lost to extraction. While removing the tooth is sometimes the only option, preserving natural teeth is the most beneficial. In the hands of a skilled professional, such as Dr. Sadiq, root canals allow many patients to keep their natural teeth while relieving the pain.

Treatment can save your tooth

If you have any of the signs you need a root canal, check out our services. You could need root canal treatment, but the only way to tell is by going to the dentist and getting evaluated by an expert. Don’t put your tooth and your health at risk, schedule a dental exam!

Root canal treatment is an often straightforward procedure to relieve dental pain and save your teeth. Patients typically need a root canal when there is inflammation or infection in the roots of a tooth.

Signs of needing a root canal:

Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. 

The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes

• deep decay
• repeated dental procedures on the tooth 
• a crack or chip in the tooth. 
• an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. 

If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

Other signs:

• Severe pain while chewing or biting
• Pimples on the gums
• A chipped or cracked tooth
• Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the sensation has been removed
• Swollen or tender gums
• Deep decay or darkening of the gums

What happens during a root canal:

During root canal treatment, an endodontist who specializes in such treatment carefully removes the pulp inside the tooth, cleans, disinfects, and shapes the root canals, and places a filling to seal the space.

For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. Discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Follow your endodontist’s instructions carefully.

Contact our office if you have any questions about root canals or if you think you may need one.