Dental abcesses

The main cause of dental abscesses is untreated tooth decay. However, the following can also cause dental abscesses:

• Dental trauma
• Gum disease
• Infection of the wisdom teeth

The appearance of an abscess is often due to a fear of consulting a dentist. It’s important to act quickly in the presence of a dental abscess, as it can lead to severe complications, such as septicaemia.

The abscess may be the result of untreated chronic periodontitis or treatment of chronic periodontitis. It may be due to the inclusion of a foreign body or to alteration of the root, favouring bacterial colonisation. Treatment must be rapid and comprehensive in order to treat the causes of the onset and prevent more serious complications.

The appearance of a dental abscess is accompanied by one or more symptoms, which are aggravated by lying down and are likely to worsen rapidly. These symptoms include

• stabbing pain in the tooth or gum
• cervical adenopathy (inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck)
• pain when chewing and swallowing
• fatigue
• fever
• insomnia due to pain

To relieve the pain and symptoms associated with dental abscesses, a comprehensive periodontal approach is required. Relapses and complications could be avoided and more serious pathologies prevented.

The intervention of a dentist or stomatologist is necessary to treat an abscess, as this infection cannot heal on its own.

To treat a dental abscess, a careful examination of the oral cavity is required, which may be accompanied by X-rays. The dentist or stomatologist then drains the abscess to empty it of the pus it contains. This operation is carried out under local anaesthetic, in two stages:

• Prior cleaning of the tooth canals containing the infected tissue (the “pulp”)
• Application of a paste in place of the removed pulp, to prevent the formation of a new abscess.

When the abscess occurs in the gum, the space between the tooth and the gum must be cleaned at the same time.

In the most advanced cases, extraction of the tooth may be necessary.
An abscessed tooth needs to be treated quickly: our clinic has a number of slots available to take care of you quickly

Under treatment, the pain caused by the abscess fades rapidly until the infection disappears. If the tooth does not have to be extracted, it is also treated.

In the interests of prevention and preserving the results of treatment, it is advisable to consult your Clinique Dentaire Sana Oris dentists regularly after treatment of a dental abscess.

The special care we take to prevent periodontal disease can mean that pathologies can be treated early, without waiting for the complications and pain associated with conditions left untreated.

The exclusive periodontal expertise of Dr Kohen and his team means that periodontal disease can be treated over the long term, for better management and to prevent recurrence of abscesses.

The cost of treatment depends on the procedures required to treat the abscess. Your dental surgeon and his or her team will be able to give you information about the cost during your consultation.