A periapical abscess is a collection of pus at the tip of the root of a tooth, caused by a bacterial infection that has spread from a tooth to the surrounding tissue. The abscess is often painful, but not always. If you have or think you have a dental abscess you should have it checked out by your general dentist. An abscess may drain in the mouth but will not go away on its own without treatment, so it important to get it treated as soon as possible to avoid it from causing a more serious infection.
Some of the common symptoms of a periapical abscess include:
- Severe throbbing toothache that radiates to the jaw, neck, or ear
- Sensitivity to the pressure of chewing or biting
- Redness and swelling of the face/jaw
- Swelling offace or cheek
Abscesses are treated by removing the infection source and draining away the pus. Depending on the severity and location of the abscess it will be treated with a root canal treatment (RCT), an extraction, or an incision and drainage.
Periapical abscesses are treatable, but here are some ways to help minimize the chances of you getting one. Remember that your mouth is always full of bacteria which is what causes plaque to build up on your teeth, so it’s important to keep good dental hygiene by brushing and flossing daily. Poor dental hygiene can damage teeth and gums. If you are not able to go to a dentist straight away you can take over the counter pain killers for a short period to help manage your pain until you can see your dentist or an endodontic specialist, although many endodontics have room in their schedules for emergency appointments if you are in pain you may want to book an appointment ASAP.
If you have any additional questions or concerns and to book an appointment contact the office of Dr. Misra – Sauparn at Specialist Care Endodontics (703) 650-9990.
About us:Specialist Care Endodontics is an endodontic practice that is a top pick for general dentists to refer patients in need of root canals and apicoectomies. We are an endodontic specialist serving the northern Virginia area in Woodbridge and Vienna (Close to Tysons Corner). We accept most insurances and do a verification of your benefits before your appointment. We are open Monday – Friday from 8am to 6pm and have Saturday appointments available by request, booking is available online and over the phone. We look forward to hearing from you!