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Many dentists perform root canals on sensitive, infected, or painful teeth. But what is the impact of this on your health? Read on to learn the truth about root canals and other options to consider. What is a Root Canal? A root canal is a surgical procedure performed by a dentist or endodontist, (a specialist [...]
Abscess Treatments
A dental abscess is an infection of the mouth that begins with bacteria (usually from a cavity) that has been left untreated. Infections can extend into the gums, cheek and sometimes even into the jaw bones and structural facial bones. An abscess triggers pain when the tissue becomes inflamed due to the pressure building within the infection. In addition to the pain, another sign that you might have an abscess is when pus begins to collect at the site of the infection, causing swelling and sometimes a foul odor . The condition can become progressively more painful until the abscess either ruptures and drains on its own or is drained surgically. With an advanced infection, you can experience nausea, vomiting, fever and chills. This is why it’s important to get treatment early. The effects of even one abscessed tooth can be harmful to the whole body.
Our Process for Treatment
Once we suspect a tooth is abscessed, we take x-rays of the area to get a good picture of how deep the infection has spread. If an abscess is present, we always recommend removing the tooth and ligament altogether. The ligament is the tissue around the tooth and must be removed as the ligament also contains infection causing bacteria from within the tooth.
Many patients ask: ‘If I remove the tooth, what can I do to replace the tooth?’ This is a great question and we do have a few solutions:
1. Placing a bone graft over the area and letting it heal for three months, then placing an implant and integrating the implant over the next three months, then fabricating a crown and holding it in place with dental cement.
2. Creating a removable partial denture – not a permanent partial denture. This technique is also referred to as a dental flipper and is only a temporary solution.
We will always give you multiple options and explain everything to you in detail. Our team is here to help you not only resolve any dental pain or infection, but to also answer all of your questions and give you the support you need to stay healthy.
