Dental Abscess? Call Your Bethesda Dentist Right Now

A dental abscess is a dental emergency. This serious oral health complication causes extreme pain, and the abscess itself is noticeable. While you might be tempted to wait it out, to see if the abscess pops on its own or, worse, try to burst it yourself, remember that this is not a blemish on your face. A dental abscess is bacteria-filled and releasing the toxins invites them to travel through your mouth and body. If you have a dental abscess, call your Bethesda dentist immediately.

Signs of a Dental Abscess

Not sure if you are suffering from a dental abscess? You need professional dental care to diagnose and quickly address the problem. Here are some of the most obvious signs of a dental abscess:

• Pus-filled area under the gumline
• Swollen gums
• Throbbing toothache
• Sensitivity to temperature changes
• Red gums
• Tender gums
• Chills or fever

While some of these symptoms resemble other oral health problems, that telltale bump on your gums and extreme pain are indications that an abscess has formed. The only safe choice is to contact your dentist and get treatment immediately.

Immediate Emergency Dental Care

A true dental emergency cannot correct itself. As much as you might want to avoid going to the dentist, especially for emergency care, you are fortunate to have a professional at your disposal who can address this problem and make it go away as quickly as possible. While you may fear additional pain, trust that your dentist knows how to get you to the other side of your discomfort.

• The first goal is to stop the pain and prevent the problem from getting bigger.
• The immediate threat is managed by carefully draining the abscess to prevent the spread of bacteria.
• The severity of the underlying problem is assessed. It will be necessary to undergo treatment to correct the source of the abscess, through root canal therapy, a tooth-colored filling, or tooth extraction.
• Antibiotics will be prescribed to fight infection and prevent it from spreading elsewhere in the body.

Causes of a Dental Abscess

Now that you know what to expect at an emergency dental visit, it’s important to understand what’s behind a dental abscess.

• Deep pulp infection causes the tooth root to suffer. If this problem is not addressed soon enough, the infection will worsen, bacteria will multiply, and an abscess will form. In other words – whenever you have a dental problem, see your dentist immediately.
• Causes of a dental abscess can include untreated tooth decay, deteriorating dental work, or bacterial infection.
• No dental abscess gets better on its own. You need a dentist to carefully contain the bacteria in the abscess, protect your oral health and overall well-being, and ensure that you are safe from life-threatening consequences.

Get Help for a Dental Emergency in Bethesda

If you have any sort of tooth pain, gum pain, or mouth pain, contact Bethesda Family Dentistry right away for an emergency dental appointment. Whatever your oral health problem, it will not get better on its own. You need the help and emergency care of an experienced dentist to prevent the problem from getting worse.