A family dentist is a professional who offers various general dentistry procedures to patients of all ages. Those who practice family dentistry can treat many serious dental concerns, including an abscessed tooth. In addition to being painful, an abscess can lead to further health concerns. Patients experiencing this issue should seek treatment right away.
An abscess occurs when pus forms a pocket around an infected tooth root. While teeth have hard enamel and dentin on their outer layers, they house connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels. The tissue, known as the pulp, can become infected because of a deep cavity, cracked tooth, or gum disease. When a tooth becomes infected, it can kill the pulp and cause an abscess to develop.
A family dentist can diagnose and treat tooth abscesses in patients of any age.
Abscessed teeth cannot heal themselves. One of the first signs of infection is pain. Patients may present with throbbing and gnawing pain or sharp and shooting pain. Some people may experience severe pain when biting down, while others may have continuous pain. Generally, a tooth infection causes temperature sensitivity that lingers long after removing the culprit.
Other symptoms individuals may face include:
A stop to the pain does not indicate a healing infection. Sometimes, toothaches stop because the pulp in the tooth dies, killing the nerves. Even if a patient cannot feel the infection, it can continue spreading, destroying other tissues.
To diagnose an abscessed tooth, the family dentist will take an X-ray to determine the cause of the infection and the damage caused by the abscess. When it comes to treatment, dentists have various options available.
One option involves draining the abscess. The professional makes a small incision to release the pus. The dentist may place a small rubber drain to keep the area open if necessary.
One of the most common treatments for patients with an abscess is a root canal. The professional remove the inner pulp during this procedure and fills the space with material to seal it against further infection. Following the process, a patient should be able to return to normal. Some dentists will fit the patient with a crown to protect the root canal.
If dentists cannot save abscessed teeth, they may extract them instead. Sometimes, an extraction provides dentists with a way to drain the abscess. Many patients also take antibiotics to treat the infection, especially if it has spread to other areas of the mouth.
A family dentist can diagnose and treat a dental abscess for patients of all ages. When diagnosed with an abscess, most patients need either a root canal or tooth extraction.
Request an appointment here: https://www.riversidefortworthdental.com or call Riverside Dental at (817) 210-4082 for an appointment in our Fort Worth office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Family Dentist in Fort Worth, TX.
When it comes to the dental care of your child, the right time for your child’s first visit to a family dentist might be sooner than you think. One survey by the Delta Dental Plans Association found that many children’s first dental visit was not until the age of two. This is later than it…
When it comes to helping your child take care of their dental needs, a family dentist can offer a lot of guidance. Children have different dental needs than adults. Therefore, it is a wise idea to take them to a dentist who has the training and knowledge necessary to understand children’s dental needs. Read on…
Want to understand the importance of using a family dentist? Family dentists tend to play a large role in their patients' good oral health.Looking for a new family dentist in Fort Worth? Even though there are many types of dentists that families can choose from nowadays, many are choosing a family dentist to provide them…
For dental emergencies, people can go to an emergency dentist or an emergency room. However, several things should be considered before deciding where to seek medical help. Just like any other medical emergency, dental emergencies also require different levels of care. This depends on their severity. The ideal place to go for treatment when you…
If you notice that your gums are bright red, swollen-looking, or bleed when you brush or floss, then you may have gum disease. This disease, also known as periodontal disease, is unfortunately quite common though, so you are not alone. It happens most often due to a build-up of bacteria on and around teeth thanks…
Invisalign® is a teeth-straightening treatment that entails wearing sets of custom-made transparent aligners over the teeth. Unlike traditional metal braces that use wires and brackets, the aligners are removable, which means wearers can take them off when they want to eat or brush their teeth. Learn about these clear aligners and how they are used to…