What is an abscess?

What is an abscess?

When you have tooth decay or gum disease, you can get infection deep within the tooth or gum. This infection is an abscessed toot and can be very painful. If it is not treated, the infection can spread and you can lose your tooth or have other health problems.

What causes an abscessed tooth?

Damage to the tooth, an untreated cavity, or gum disease can cause an abscessed tooth.

If a cavity is not treated, the inside of the tooth (called the pulp) can become infected. Bacteria can spread from the tooth to the tissue around it, creating an abscess.

Gum disease causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, leaving pockets. If food builds up in one of these pockets, bacteria can grow, and an abscess can form. Over time an abscess can cause the bone around the tooth to dissolve.

What are the symptoms?

You may have:

• Throbbing pain, especially when you chew.
• Red, swollen gums.
• A bad, foul smelling taste in your mouth.
• Swelling in your jaw or face.
• A fever.
• A bump (gumboil) that looks like a pimple on the cheek side or tongue side of the gum near the tooth.

Over time as the infection spreads, the bone in your jaw may begin to dissolve. When this happens, you may feel less pain, but the infection will remain. If you lose too much bone, your tooth will become loose and may have to be removed.

If you have a severe toothache or notice drainage of pus, call your dentist right away. You may have an abscessed tooth. If it is not treated, the infection could spread and become dangerous.

How is it treated?

If you have an abscessed tooth, your dentist will give you antibiotics to kill the bacteria causing the infection. Antibiotics may help for a while. But to get rid of the abscess, your dentist will need to get rid off the source of infection. This is done by making hole in the tooth or gum to drain the infection. Usually this will relieve your pain.

If the inside of your tooth is infected, you will need a root canal or to have the tooth removed. A root canal tries to save your tooth by taking out the infected pulp. If you don't want a root canal or if you have one and it doesn't work, the dentist may have to remove your tooth. You and your doctor can decide the best step to take.

You may be able to reduce pain and swelling from an abscessed tooth by putting an ice pack wrapped in a towel against your cheek. You can also try over-the-counter pain medicine, including aspirin, acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin). But you still need to see your dentist for treatment.

How can you prevent an abscessed tooth?

You can prevent an abscessed tooth by preventing bacterial infections in your mouth. The best way to do that is to take good care of your teeth and gums:

• Brush your teeth 2 times a day, in the morning and at night, with fluoride toothpaste approved by the American Dental Association.
• Use dental floss to clean between your teeth every day.
• See your dentist for regular dental cleanings and checkups.
• Eat a healthy diet, and limit between-meal snacks.

Some people have a very dry mouth. This can cause deep dental cavities to form quickly, which can infect the pulp of a tooth and lead to an abscess. You may be able to prevent these problems by taking frequent sips of water, chewing gum, or sucking on sugarless candy. If you have severe dry mouth symptoms, you may need to take medicine to treat the problem.

Many medicines can cause a dry mouth, including some medicines used to treat depression and high blood pressure.

What is a crown?

What is a crown?

A crown is a restoration that I prescribe to fix badly broken teeth or a tooth that has been root canal treated. A crown is cemented over top of the tooth after it has been prepared. Badly broken teeth can result from large cavities, root canal treatment and trauma as well. Sometimes crowns are placed on teeth that are cosmetically unacceptable by the patient. By doing a crown, I can alter the shape, contour, color and bite of the original tooth so that patients are happy with its function as well as its appearance.

Crowns also sometimes require additional procedures based on the existing condition of the tooth such as a root canal, crown lengthening surgery, and teeth buildups. Please consult me if you have any questions about crowns or bridges. Crowns can be made of gold, porcelain, or metal/porcelain which is called a porcelain fused to metal crown(PFM). The decision on the material is based on the position of the tooth, the demand for esthetics, and what type of chewing forces the crown would be subjected to.

What is filling?

What is a filling?

A filling is a material that your dentist uses to fill a cavity after the tooth decay has been removed.

To fill a tooth, I will:

• Numb your teeth, gums, tongue, and surrounding skin. I will first put a jelly substance directly on the area to start the numbing process and then inject an anesthetic to complete it. Sometimes we will give you nitrous oxide gas (laughing gas) to reduce your pain and help you relax.
• Sometimes we use a small sheet of rubber on a metal frame (rubber dam) to target the decayed tooth and to stop liquid and tooth chips from entering your mouth and throat.
• Drill out all the decay and replace it with a filling.

Fillings can be made from many types of material. Talk to your dentist about which type would be best for you.

• Amalgam is the easiest material for a dentist to use. It is the fastest and least costly choice. Amalgam is a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, or other metals. I do not use this material anymore due to patient preference and because it is expensive and difficult to expose of.
• Composite resins are tooth-colored fillings. This process is sometimes referred to as “bonding” if it is on a front tooth. This is standard nowadays for the cosmetic dentist. It is the most esthetic(cosmetic) material and the newer materials have longevity comparable to the amalgam silver fillings. Composite resin is easier than gold for a dentist to work with and generally is less expensive than gold.
• Ceramics are costly tooth-colored fillings. They require special equipment and may require dental lab support. You may need several appointments. These are used in much larger fillings where the tooth is in between needing a filling or a crown.

What To Expect After Treatment

After I filled the cavity, your lips and gums may remain numb for a few hours until the numbing medicine wears off. Avoid chewing on your numb lip or cheek to avoid injuring your mouth.

Why It Is Done

You need a filling when tooth decay has caused a hole (cavity) to form on a tooth surface. If you don't get a filling, the cavity will get worse and lead to more severe problems, such as bone loss.

How Well It Works

A filling repairs the tooth and stops tooth decay. Over a long period of time, you may need to replace a worn-out filling.

Your filled tooth may be sensitive to heat and cold for days to weeks after you get the filling. Talk to your dentist about toothpastes that may help you with this discomfort. Tell your dentist if your teeth are too sensitive after you get a filling, because you can usually treat this problem.

Risks

There is almost no risk involved in having a cavity filled.

Some dental work can cause bacteria in the mouth to enter the bloodstream. These bacteria can cause infections in other parts of the body. People who have difficulty fighting infections may need to take antibiotics before and after dental surgery. Such people include those who:

• Have heart valve problems, such as endocarditis.
• Were born with heart defects.
• Have an impaired immune system.
• Have liver disease (cirrhosis.
• Have artificial joints, such as a hip that has been replaced.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) is very prominent today and should be addressed as soon as possible to avoid extensive and complicated treatment.

What causes gum disease?

Your mouth constantly produces a clear, sticky substance called plaque that contains bacteria. The bacteria in plaque make poisons, or toxins, that irritate the gums and cause the tissues to break down. If you don't do a good job of removing plaque from your teeth, it can spread below the gum line and damage the bone that supports the teeth. With time, plaque hardens into a substance called tartar that has to be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist.

You are more likely to get gum disease if you:

• Do not clean your teeth well.
• Smoke or use spit tobacco.
• Have gum disease in your family.
• Have a condition that makes it harder for your body to fight infection, such as:
• • Uncontrolled diabetes, AIDS, or leukemia.
  • A high level of stress.
  • A diet low in nutrients.

What are the symptoms?

Healthy gums are pink and firm, fit snugly around the teeth, and do not bleed easily. Early-stage gum disease (gingivitis) causes:

• Gums that are red, swollen, and tender.
• Gums that bleed easily during brushing or flossing.

As gum disease advances, it causes more noticeable symptoms, such as:

• Gums that pull away or recede from the teeth.
• Persistent bad breath.
• Pus coming from the gums.
• A change in how your teeth fit together when you bite.
• Loose teeth.

Types of Dental Sedation

Sedation is a common treated administered nowadays in dentistry and extremely beneficial to the fearful, anxious, or time constrained patient who desires extensive work in a comfortable, short amount of time. Please see below to learn about the different types of sedation offered.

Types of Sedation

There are 3 different types of sedation:

1. - The lightest form of sedation is nitrous oxide (laughing gas). This produces a mild sense of relaxation.

2. - Oral sedation is a moderate form of sedation. This form of sedation typically uses two pills taken before the dental visit to produce a deep state of relaxation. It is best used for short appointments, because once the drug reaches its peak state of relaxation it slowly begins to wear off.

3. - The deepest form of sedation is IV sedation (sleep dentistry). This form of sedation uses pain relieving and sedative drugs to create a sleep like state where the patient is virtually unaware of the dentistry being preformed. Most patients have little or no memory of the visit.

Only about 4% of dentists have the training and licensing to provide IV Sedation.

Some dentists have access to all of the above forms of sedation to help a patient feel comfortable before, during and after treatment.

Posting Questions

One of the most common questions I get on a day to day basis is what is a cavity? So, to clear the confusion, I will attempt to explain below:

What is tooth decay?

Tooth decay is the process that results in a cavity (dental caries). It occurs when bacteria in your mouth make acids that eat away at a tooth. If not treated, tooth decay can cause infection and tooth loss.

You can easily prevent tooth decay by brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, seeing your dentist for teeth cleaning and checkups, and avoiding foods that are high in sugar.

What causes tooth decay?

The combination of bacteria and food causes tooth decay. A clear, sticky substance called plaque that contains bacteria is always forming on your teeth and gums. As the bacteria feed on the sugars in the food you eat, they make acids. The acids attack the teeth for 20 minutes or more after eating. Over a period of time, these acids destroy tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay.

What are the symptoms of tooth decay?

Tooth decay usually does not cause symptoms until you have a cavity or an infected tooth. When this occurs, a toothache is the most common symptom.

How is tooth decay diagnosed?

Your dentist diagnoses tooth decay by:

• Asking questions about your past dental and medical problems and care.
• Examining your teeth, using a pointed tool and a small mirror.
• Taking X-rays of your teeth and mouth.

How is tooth decay treated?

Treatment for tooth decay depends on how bad it is. You may be able to reverse slight tooth decay by using fluoride. To fix cavities caused by mild tooth decay, your dentist will fill the cavities with another substance (fillings). For more severe tooth decay, you may need a crown or root canal. In extreme cases, your dentist may have to remove the tooth.