Dental Infections May Cause Following Issues
A dental abscess is a localized pus accumulation as a result of dental infections and may spread to surrounding tissues. The cause of dental infection may be a deep cavity, poor oral hygiene, gum disease, a cracked tooth, trauma, or sometimes even due to a recent poor filling or tooth capping/ crown. If ignored and left untreated dental infection may lead to potentially life threatening conditions and may require hospital admissions.
Signs and Symptoms
Dental abscesses may vary in severity ranging from mild, moderate to severe. Pus often collects at the site of the infection as the immune system tries to keep the infection from spreading. Pain may not always be present.
The signs often associated with dental abscess/infections are deep cavities, gum inflammation, tenderness to touch, and pus drainage. One may experience symptoms like severe pain, swelling, redness of the mouth, and face. Teeth will be very sensitive to pressure. If untreated and ignored it can progress to advanced infection with a feeling of very hard and tender facial swelling, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, difficulty in swallowing or breathing, and inability to open mouth.
People with compromised immune systems or systemic disease for example those with diabetes, Anemia, liver or kidney diseases, taking steroids, and receiving chemotherapy are more prone to the rapid increase in severity.
The condition will often become progressively more painful until the abscess either ruptures and drains on its own or is drained surgically. In an abscess, bacteria from the tooth can extend into the gums, the cheek, the throat, the tissues beneath the tongue, or even into the jaw or facial bones. The infection in some cases can spread beyond the teeth and bone into the neck around airway or through the bloodstream to other areas of the body where it can damage organs and even can be fatal.
Patients experiencing the above signs and symptoms should consult a Dentist or Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon without delay for appropriate surgical and medical management.
Dental Infection Diagnosis.
A dentist or Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon at Dental Aesthetics diagnose it by thorough physical examination, X-rays of the tooth or whole jaw, and certain tests. There are no home remedies for dental infection. Pain killers may help the pain, but they will not treat the infection. Follow-up with a Dentist or Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon is always indicated.
Treatment
Treatment directed at eliminating the primary source of the infection is necessary to prevent a recurrence. The location of this primary source (tooth) determines the “definitive” treatment options, which may include root canal treatment, periodontal treatment, or extraction of the tooth, incision and drainage of abscess along with medications.
For an acute dental abscess /Infection that causes substantial pain or swelling, the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon may incise and drain the infection. Furthermore, he will do the Root canal or remove the tooth depending on the tooth condition and severity of the problem. He will also prescribe antibiotics most appropriate for the condition. Infections that are life-threatening may require hospital admission, intravenous antibiotics, and nutritional support.
Dental Aesthetics along with a team of well experienced & Qualified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. Asim Naqash provide complete care of such infections in an absolutely clean and sterilized set up in addition to providing the best treatment.
