People who have had their spleen removed.Having a spreading infection of your face.Ĭomplications are more likely to develop in people with diabetes and in those with a poorly functioning immune system.Being in severe pain despite taking painkillers at maximum dose.Having swelling of the floor of your mouth, face or jaw.Having difficulty opening your mouth, swallowing or breathing. ![]() If you feel very unwell with a high temperature.Symptoms that may indicate that a complication is developing and where you should seek medical help urgently are: This is not only to relieve pain but to prevent possible serious complications. So, the take home message is - if you have a dental abscess then you should have it treated. This could spread to the face, brain or neck (symptoms of serious infection are listed below). A serious, potentially life-threatening infection of the floor of the mouth.Cavernous sinus thrombosis - this is an infection and clotting of a blood vessel in the brain.A dental fluid-filled cavity (cyst) which may develop.Sinusitis - spread of infection to the nearby sinus in the face bone.Osteomyelitis - an infection of the nearby bone.However, they can be serious, even fatal in rare situations. This may leave a channel (a sinus tract) between a persistent focus of infection and the skin or mouth, which can discharge pus from time to time. If left untreated, the abscess may burst on to the skin of the face or into the mouth. The pus can usually be drained and the tooth can be saved if it is not badly broken down. If treated, the outlook (prognosis) is good. The oral surgeon may carry out a procedure to reshape the gum tissue. If you develop repeated periodontal abscesses you may be referred to an oral surgeon. This helps to prevent a recurrence of infection. Following this a dentist may smooth out the root surfaces of the tooth to encourage the gum to close back on to the tooth and for any pocket to disappear. Once the pus has been drained, a dentist may clean the pocket where the abscess had formed. If the infection persists despite root canal treatment, the dentist may have to remove (extract) the tooth. This is because the infection and abscess will almost certainly return unless the dead pulp tissue is dealt with.) ( Note: even if pain has gone with an initial emergency drainage of the pus, you are still likely to need root canal treatment. A root filling is then placed into the tooth to fill the space and prevent further infection. Briefly - a dentist will drill into the dead tooth and allow pus to escape through the tooth, and then remove the dead pulpal tissue. This treatment aims to save and restore the damaged or dead inner part of a tooth (the pulp). The treatment for this type of abscess is normally root canal treatment. Some people require stronger painkillers prescribed by a doctor.) ( Note: paracetamol and ibuprofen can be taken together if pain relief with either alone is not enough. These are both available over the counter. You may need painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen until the abscess is drained and treated. (GPs are advised they should not treat dental problems, as it is outside their area of expertise.) However, an antibiotic will not clear the pus and cure the abscess and you must see a dentist soon. Some doctors may choose to prescribe an antibiotic to help relieve the symptoms, but only when the diagnosis is clear and there is facial swelling. Your GP cannot do a lot to help apart from recommend and prescribe painkillers. ![]() However, in most cases an antibiotic is probably not needed once the pus is drained. Sometimes, if the infection is not contained, an antibiotic medicine is prescribed for a few days after draining the pus to clear any remaining infection. This is done either by piercing (lancing) the abscess or by drilling a small hole in the tooth to let the pus escape. A dentist will normally drain the pus and this often gives great relief of symptoms. What is the treatment for a dental abscess? Initial treatment
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |