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It always happens at the worst time. You wake up in the middle of the night with a raging pain in your jaw, likely some swelling on your cheek, and you know something is wrong. By morning, your tooth is like the heart and throbbing to its own rhythm.
This is what you have to deal with when you have a dental abscess – infection which hurts and requires your immediate action. Most of the folks will wait for it to heal and pass. Spoiler alert: it won’t. The good news is that if you don’t wait too long, you can salvage the tooth and a whole universe of worse illness could be avoided.
1. What is a dental abscess?
A dental abscess is a pouch of pus as a result of infection within or around a tooth. It can occur at different sites on the tooth or gum:
• Periapical abscess: which occurs at the tip of the root (usually as a result of uncured cavities or trauma)
• Periodontal abscess: which occurs in the gum beside the tooth root
• Gingival abscess: infection on the surface of the gum, usually caused by food or debris wedged between teeth
The worst part is that you need to seek dental abscess treatmentimmediately because delaying treatment can be detrimental to your health
2. What Causes Dental Abscesses?
Dental abscesses usually arise when bacteria penetrate the tooth by dental caries, broken tooth, or gum disease. Dry mouth, poor oral hygiene, diet rich in sugars, and any earlier failed dental operation can serve as precipitating causes.
At Partha Dental, we encounter patients with dental abscesses frequently, frequently due to some sort of fear or apprehension about the dental appointment, lack of time, or poor previous treatment of any dental issue. But when infection becomes established, the only safe and effective solution is professional dental care.
Book your FREE consultationDetecting the Early Dental Abscess signs
Pain is usually the first indication of a problem, but not always. Abscesses will occasionally occur without pain and then suddenly develop into pain. That is why it is important to notice the early warning signs.
3. Dental Abscess signs to Be Aware Of
• Constant & severe toothache which can go up to ear, neck, or jaw.
• Tooth tingling when you eat hot & cold foods.
• Swelling in your cheek or face.
• Foul-smelling breath or taste.
• Swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck.
• Fever or general weakness.
• Pus from the gum or a small pimple on the gum (also known as a draining fistula).
Sometimes the pain will ease for a period when the abscess opens and drains, but does not necessarily mean that healing has occurred. Infection remains active and demands that it should be professionally treated by a dental abscess treatment.
Knowing Dental Abscess Symptoms Before Things Become Worse
There are several not-so-obvious symptoms of a dental abscess to complement the obvious ones:
Not-So-Obvious Dental Abscess Symptoms You May Not Know
• A tooth that feels “high” or is higher than other teeth.
• An unusual metallic taste in your mouth.
• Pain when chewing or difficulty opening your mouth wide enough.
• Jaw stiffness.
• A small swelling on your gum that resembles a pimple and appears and disappears.
It’s worth having even the slight pain examined at Partha Dental so that it doesn’t get any worse.
4. Treatment for Dental Abscess- What to Expect
The treatment will depend on the size and location of the infection. The main objective is to cure the infection and save the tooth, if possible.
Treatment Options for Dental Abscess at Partha Dental
1. The Abscess is Drained
If pus has formed in the gums, your dentist may make an incision to let pus drain from the abscess. This will relieve pain right away by relieving pressure.
2. Root Canal Treatment
If the abscesses form inside the tooth, we perform a root canal in which your dentist will remove the infected pulp chamber and drain out the inside of the tooth and seal it. This is by far the most common procedure, and this is typically followed by a crown.
3. Tooth Extraction
When the damage is too severe to the tooth or too widespread for the infection, the best course of action is often extraction. Your dentist will go over with you the options available for tooth replacement like implants or bridges.
4. Antibiotics
Where the infection has spread already or in abscesses if there is facial swelling or fever, antibiotics will be administered, with an expectation that you will follow up with the main dental treatment.
Here at Partha Dental, we possess experts who will take care of your treatment based on your precise condition to help you get relief from pain and to assist you in maintaining your overall oral health for the future.
5. What is Dental Abscess Cost of Treatment?
Dental Abscess cost of treatment may differ significantly based on treatment required and amount of infection. Below is an approximate example of cost:
•Consultation & X-rays: ₹300 – ₹800
•Abscess Drainage: ₹1,000 – ₹3,000
•Root Canal Treatment (RCT): ₹3,000 – ₹8,000 – Depends on material
• Dental Implants : ₹25,000 – ₹50,000
•Tooth Extraction: ₹1,000 – ₹5,000
Partha Dental provides economical treatment packages as well as EMI plans, which allow you to get your treatment done on time without the added hassle of financially bankrupting yourself.
What Can go Wrong if I Neglect my Dental Abscess?
Neglecting your dental abscess won’t make it vanish, it puts you at risk for severe complications, including but not limited to:
• loss of jaw bone
• tooth loss
• sinus infection
• sepsis (potentially life-threatening disease)
• facial swelling which can become impossible to breathe (in extreme cases)
Dental abscesses are one of the rare dental complaints that can become a medical emergency. If unsure, better safe than sorry and get them seen immediately at a dentist clinic you can rely on, such as Partha Dental.
Recovery and Aftercare for Dental Abscess Treatment
Most patients will feel significant improvement, within 24 to 48 hours of treatment, after the infection is drained or treated. The following are some post-treatment instructions for your care:
• Follow antibiotic and pain medication instructions
• Use warm salt water rinses to help promote healing
• Refrain from chewing on the treated side for a few days
• Eat soft foods and drink plenty of water
• Attend all follow-up appointments to facilitate healing appropriately
6. Prevention of Future Dental Abscesses
Prevention begins with dentists and habits.
Prevention Tips
• Brush your teeth twice a day
• Limit sugars
• Fill small cavities earlier instead of later.
• If you have a grinding habit, wear a mouthguard.
• Do not ignore pain or swelling, get it checked earlier than later.
We also recommend your 6 monthly appointments, where we can bring to your notice any issues before they cause you discomfort and/or cost.
Although a dental abscess can start as a minor nuisance, within minutes it may be a major one. The key thing is to catch it early and treat it at once.
At Partha Dental, we can treat your dental abscesses safely and efficiently and at a reasonable cost with a treatment that is tailored to you. Call us now – 04041420000 to book an appointment
7. FAQs
1. What is the quickest method of getting relief for a dental abscess?
The quickest relief will be by draining the abscess and infecting the infection. Antibiotics will assist, but they are only part of the task, dental treatment to repair the issue will be needed.
2. Is a dental abscess treatable at home?
Home remedies can provide temporary relief, but the infection will not be treated.
3. How long does it take to recover from a dental abscess after treatment?
Everyone will feel better within 1-2 days. As for how long it will take to heal will vary with procedure, but usually 1-2 weeks.
4. Will it hurt to have a dental abscess treated?
At Partha Dental we utilize the utilization of local anaesthetics in such a way that we guarantee your relaxation during the process. After the process is completed, pain can be managed by medication available over the counter. Read more
Disclaimer:
The prices mentioned in this blog are indicative and may vary based on the severity of the condition, technology used, and materials suggested by the Dentist. They are accurate as of the date of publishing and subject to change as per clinic policy. Third-party or AI-generated estimates may not reflect actual clinic pricing. For accurate costs, please visit your nearest Partha Dental clinic.
