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://thevannuysdentists.com or call Dr. David Esraeli DDS at (818) 574-4438 for an appointment in our Van Nuys office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Family Dentist in Van Nuys, CA.
A family dentist spends most of their time performing preventative treatments that keep you and your loved one’s mouths healthy. The American Dental Association recommends getting preventative treatments like teeth cleanings at least twice a year. The data shows that it is an effective way to prevent the two most common dental issues: tooth decay…
At one point or another, a family dentist might suggest getting x-rays and examinations of the oral cavity. The scans might be more regularly recommended for patients with a high risk of tooth decay than once or twice a year. X-rays are important and a necessary aspect of a dental diagnostic procedure. Without the scan,…
General dentists and family dentists are quite similar and often get confused for each other. The main difference between the two practices is that in general, dentists specialize in specific areas, like orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry, which limits them to certain age groups. Family dentists specialize in broader areas, allowing them to treat more patients.If…
How do family dentists feel about chewing gum? You will probably find packets of gums in the checkout area of convenience stores, grocery stores, drugstores and gas stations. Although sugar-free gum is the most common option available, the myths of chewing gum might confuse you.Sometimes the gum is advertised as a dental aid, and you…
While getting a tooth extraction may seem daunting, there are many situations where the procedure…
Same-day crowns are made from ceramics, so they look just like natural teeth. Ceramic shares…
When missing one or several teeth, patients may be eligible to get tooth implants from…
A full mouth reconstruction, or full mouth rehabilitation, can comprise multiple treatments. It may enhance…
If you have an extensively decayed tooth or the filling applied is too big for…
The ideal candidate for dental implants is healthy enough to recover from minor oral surgery.…
