Hey, my name is Shelly Katalgo. My love for sedation dentistry started in high school. My best friend had a severe fear of going to the dentist and I wanted to help her feel better about it. Although I always enjoyed my dental visits, I felt bad that she struggled so much with going to hers. My parents taught me about sedation dentistry and I instantly dreamed of becoming a dental professional. I wanted to help kids like my friend stay fear free throughout their appointments by using gentle techniques and professional medications. Although I opted to follow a different career path, my passion for dentistry remained throughout the years. I will update my site with developments in this industry as soon as they are reported. I will also discuss the benefits of sedation dentistry in detail. Thanks for visiting. I hope you come back soon.
Franklin Steward
Your teeth have blood vessels and nerves that flow down the center of them, which help keep the tooth alive. However, it is possible for those blood vessels and nerves to become infected, which is what is known as a dental abscess. Here are a few things you need to know about this dental problem.
What Symptoms Does A Dental Abscess Cause?
If you're not sure if you have a dental abscess, it's important to look at the symptoms that can indicate you have one. The early stages of an infection will cause a tooth to become more sensitive, show signs of decay or cracking, and give you tooth pain. A dentist can also see the early signs of an abscess by taking an X-ray since it will cause the root to look a bit darker.
There are different problems that can happen during the later stages of a dental abscess, which include having an odd taste in your mouth, pus draining from around the tooth, or a tooth that feels loose. Your dentist can identify an abscess because there will be a visible cyst around the root.
One thing to keep in mind about a dental abscess is that the symptoms can come and go. You may feel pain and discomfort one day and then have it go away. This doesn't mean that the problem went away, and you'll still want to visit a dentist to see what is going on under your gums.
Can You Prevent A Dental Abscess?
There are a few ways to prevent a dental abscess from forming. The main method is to simply brush and floss every single day. Cavities that are left untreated can lead to an abscess, so you'll want to prevent those cavities from forming.
However, there are other ways you can prevent yourself from having a dental abscess. A deep crack in a tooth can cause bacteria to get into the nerve chamber, which can easily happen from playing contact sports. Wearing a mouth guard while playing can help protect your teeth and prevent a crack from forming.
How Do You Fix A Dental Abscess?
A root canal is the primary method that a dentist can use to get rid of a dental abscess. The abscess is only going to get worse over time, so removing the root will save the tooth and remove the infection. In a worst-case scenario, you will need to pull the tooth because it cannot be saved with a root canal.
Contact a local dentist, such as Dr. Jon Douglas Lesan, DDS, RpH, PA, to learn more.