Abscessed Teeth: Treatment Options You Need To Know
Posted on: 10 March 2017
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If you have an abscessed tooth, it will often get worse before it gets better. An abscessed tooth can result when dangerous bacteria builds up around the tooth and gum, leading to a painful lesion. This can cause bleeding, swelling, and terrible nerve pain. Regular dental care can prevent this from happening, but it is important that you treat an abscess once you have one. The following are some standard abscessed treatment options:
Antibiotic Treatment Only
One of the standard treatments for abscessed teeth is antibiotics. If you have an infected cavity that will require extraction or a filling, antibiotics will be the first round of treatment before any other work is done.
In some cases, antibiotics only will be enough to treat the abscess. Antibiotics will help kill the bacteria in the abscess so that the swelling will be reduced and lessen the chance for fever that can result from the infection. While antibiotics can help heal an abscess, it will not cure the tooth that caused it. Odds are that the abscess will return at some point until you deal with the tooth.
The Ideal Treatment For Abscessed Teeth
Antibiotics are always going to be required for controlling infection, but you will need to treat the source of the infection, which is the tooth. If you do not deal with the infected tooth, the bacteria will continue to feed on the pulp and dentin inside the tooth, causing continuous problems. The inside of the tooth will need to be completely cleaned out and removed. This is best accomplished with a root canal.
The term root canal often brings instant fear in the finds of timid patients. However, thanks to the different forms of technology and the ability to control pain optimally, root canals are quite easy to deal with. Getting the tooth taken care of with a root canal is very much worth not having to deal with a painful infection again.
If you are dealing with mouth pain that is constant, you need to see your dentist as soon as possible. Infected teeth can cause a plethora of additional health problems over your entire body. A root canal is an ideal option that will save your tooth and a lot of pain. If you wait too long, you risk losing the tooth and will need an implant, bridge, or have a big space where your tooth belongs.