A wisdom tooth abscess is a painful condition that can seriously impact your health. Knowing the warning signs of an abscess will help you know when to seek emergency care. Here’s what patients need to know.
What is a Tooth Abscess?
A tooth abscess is a painful pocket of pus that forms along the root of a tooth. It’s caused by an untreated bacterial infection. Usually, oral infections cause small holes (known as cavities) to form on the surface of the tooth. However, if these infections are not treated, they can spread and grow, causing a dangerous and painful buildup to form in the mouth.
Abscesses in Wisdom Teeth
An abscess can form underneath any tooth. However, wisdom tooth abscesses are particularly common because of the way wisdom teeth grow into the mouth. Most people don’t have enough jaw space to support an extra set of molars. Thus, when wisdom teeth grow in, they are often impacted. This can lead to a lot of discomfort and also painful conditions, including infections.
Signs of a Wisdom Tooth Abscess
The most common symptom is pain or swelling around the infected area. This can range from mild sensitivity when chewing to severe, constant pain. Pain might be dull or sharp. A bad breath, odd feeling around the tooth, swollen glands in the neck, and fever can also occur. If you have any of these symptoms, the problem could be serious. See an emergency dentist ASAP.
Treatment for Wisdom Tooth Abscess
If you have an abscess, then it’s important to clear the infection as soon as possible. Your dentist will first examine your mouth to see the extent of the infection. Then, depending on its severity, they may drain the abscess and/or prescribe you antibiotics to fight the infection. Wisdom tooth removal is also likely. This will prevent further infections from developing in the future.
Don’t Wait For Relief
A wisdom tooth abscess can be a very serious problem. For some patients, it can even be life-threatening. Visit an oral surgeon or dentist as soon as you notice signs of an infection. Click the link on the right-hand side of the page to request an appointment with Rock Creek Oral Surgery today.