How to Treat an Abscess? First Things First…
An abscess is caused when bacteria causes an infection. It is very painful, with pockets of pus developing at the root of the tooth. But then again, nobody needs to tell you how painful an abscess can be; you are living it! The pain, the swelling, the bad breath: it is no walk in the park. Now that you are suffering the agony, you need to know how to treat an abscess, fast!
First things first: go to the dentist! An abscess cannot be properly treated at home. A dentist can diagnose the abscess and determine the extent of the infection. Once these things are determined, the dentist can create an appropriate treatment plan, which commonly includes:
Draining the Infection
An abscess causes pockets of pus to accumulate. This pus is composed of dead cells and bacteria and this must be drained to prevent the spread of infection. The appropriate way to drain an abscess depends on the severity of the infection. Sometimes, a small cut, or incision, can be made to drain the infection from the gum. The mouth is then rinsed with a saline solution.
Root Canal
When the infection is concentrated at the root of the tooth, a root canal is the best way to treat the infection. A root canal is a procedure that hollows out the tooth; the center of the tooth, or pulp, is removed along with all of the canals leading from it into the roots. It is then filled with a rubber material and sealed to prevent continued infection. A cap, or crown, is then placed to add strength to the structure of the tooth.
Extraction
In extreme cases, a compromised tooth cannot be saved. In this case, the tooth is removed and the infection is drained from the tooth socket itself. This is a less common situation, and is a last resort to keep the infection from affecting the underlying bone.
Antibiotics
Though it is not always the case, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics to prevent the infection of an abscess from causing damage to other teeth and the jaw itself.
While an abscess is a serious threat to oral health, it is treatable. If you think you have an abscess, the best thing to do is get to a dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist can determine the extent of the infection and the best course of action for treatment. As you already know,the sooner the abscess is gone, the better!
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