Mouth/Dental Abscess | Medtick
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Mouth/Dental Abscess

What is it?

A collection of pus appearing as an abscess mainly from tooth decay.

  • Tooth decay occurs when the bacteria in plaque that forms on the teeth breaks down dietary sugars (food and drink we eat) to produce acid.
  • This acid changes and produces a cavity or hole on ones hard teeth.
  • Tooth decay then moves deeper into the tooth to the part that contains the blood and nerve supply (dental pulp) and can cause severe pain and irreversible damage.
  • The tooth can eventually die; the tissue inside the tooth becomes severely inflamed and one then has a collection of pus appearing as an abscess.

Diagnosis tests

  • Clinical examination
  • Dental X-ray
    • Periapical X-ray: Shows infection around the tooth root.
    • Panoramic X-ray (OPG): Shows larger infections, jaw involvement, or impacted teeth.
  • CT scan
  • Bacterial culture from pus
  • Blood tests for serious cases and unexplained cases.

Cause

Symptoms

  • Bad taste in the mouth?
  • Cream colour pit where pus can be squeezed out?
  • Hot red and swollen gums close to the tooth?
  • Pain (normally to a single tooth)?
  • Pain that is worse on chewing or if touched?

If severe:

  • Difficulty opening their mouth fully?
  • Difficulty swallowing or breathing?
  • Facial swelling spreading to the eye and/or throat?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • High temperature greater than 38°C, 100°F or over greater than 72 hours, chills and sweats?
  • Loss of appetite?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition can lead to:

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Dentist) for further advice if a mouthwash/oral gels and/or painkillers has not helped.

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Mouth/Dental Abscess in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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