Tooth Abscess Treatment That Saves Your Tooth
A tooth abscess is one of the most painful problems we treat, and it tends to come on fast. When your general dentist refers you to our practice with an abscess, our first goal is simple, get you out of pain. From there we work to drain the infection, relieve the pressure, and in most cases save the natural tooth so you do not have to lose it. Prompt tooth abscess treatment is the surest way to protect both your comfort and your smile.
What is a Tooth Abscess?
What is a Tooth Abscess?
A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus that forms when bacteria infect the inside of a tooth or the surrounding tissue. Most often it develops at the very tip of the root, called a periapical abscess, after decay, a crack, or an injury lets bacteria reach the soft pulp. As the infection grows, it builds pressure that has nowhere to go, which is why an abscess can throb so intensely.
An abscess will not clear up on its own. The body cannot flush out an infection sealed inside a tooth, so the problem only gets worse until it is treated. The good news is that draining the abscess and treating the source almost always lets us keep your tooth. No matter how effective modern artificial tooth replacements are, nothing works as well as your own natural tooth.
Signs You May Have an Abscessed Tooth
An abscess usually announces itself, though symptoms vary from one person to the next. The most common warning signs include the following.
- Severe, throbbing pain in a tooth or in the jaw that may keep you up at night
- Swelling in the face, cheek, or gums near the painful tooth
- A small pimple-like bump on the gum that may leak fluid and leave a bad taste
- A bad taste in the mouth or persistent bad breath
- Fever, tender lymph nodes, or a general feeling of being unwell
- Tenderness or sharp pain when you bite or chew
- Sensitivity to hot and cold that lingers after the source is gone
If the pain suddenly stops, do not assume the problem is gone. That can mean the infection has destroyed the nerve, while the bacteria continue to spread. A dental abscess can move into the jaw, the surrounding tissue, and other parts of the body, so it should always be seen promptly.
How Tooth Abscess Treatment Works
Your visit starts with a friendly endodontic evaluation. We review your dental history, talk through your symptoms, and take advanced 3D cone beam (CBCT) images so we can see the exact location and extent of the infection. This tells us where the abscess is coming from and confirms the best way to treat it.
The first priority is relief. We numb the area with modern local anesthetic, then drain the abscess to release the trapped pus and ease the pressure that has been causing your pain. Once the area is calm, we treat the source of the infection, which in most cases means a root canal. We isolate the tooth with a dental dam to keep it clean, remove the infected pulp, and clean and reshape every canal on a microscopic level with NASA approved tools. After the inside of the tooth is thoroughly disinfected, we fill and seal it, and your endodontist or general dentist later restores it with a permanent filling or crown.
Antibiotics are sometimes used to support healing when swelling has spread beyond the tooth, but they are not a cure on their own. They cannot reach the sealed inside of the tooth where the infection lives, so the abscess will return unless the source is treated. If an infection lingers at the root tip after a root canal, a small microsurgical procedure called an apicoectomy lets us treat the very end of the root directly and clear it for good.
Advanced Technology for an Accurate Diagnosis
Finding and clearing the source of an abscess takes precision. With advanced 3D cone beam (CBCT) imaging, we can see infection and bone loss around the root that a standard x-ray can miss, which helps us plan exactly how to treat your tooth. During the procedure, endodontic microscopes let us locate even narrow or curved canals where bacteria can hide. Treating every canal completely is what keeps an abscess from coming back.
Comfort and Relief
We know how miserable an abscess feels, and we treat it as the priority it is. Endodontists are experts in pain management, and most patients feel dramatically better within a day of treatment as the pressure drains away. We keep you relaxed during your visit with amenities such as blankets, in-ceiling TVs, headphones, and music. For patients who would like more help relaxing, we offer sedation options including nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, oral sedation by taking a pill, or even IV sedation following a consultation. Our team checks in after treatment and is available by phone after hours to answer any questions.
Saving Your Natural Tooth
Treating an abscess early lets us clear the infection while keeping your natural tooth in place, which protects your bite and the bone that supports it. Saving your own tooth is almost always preferable to removing it and replacing it with a dental implant or bridge. Our goal with every abscess is to relieve your pain, stop the infection, and let you get back to your normal routine.
Have any additional questions?
Give us a call.
Do Not Wait to Treat a Tooth Abscess
An abscess is a true dental emergency, and waiting only gives the infection more room to spread. The sooner you are seen, the easier the treatment and the better the chance of saving your tooth. Contact us today to schedule your endodontic evaluation at our location in Colorado Springs or Pueblo by calling 719-599-7665.
Tooth Abscess Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tooth abscess?
A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection, most often at the tip of the tooth’s root. It usually starts when decay, a crack, or an injury lets bacteria reach the pulp inside the tooth. The trapped infection builds pressure, which is what causes the severe throbbing pain an abscess is known for.
Is a tooth abscess a dental emergency?
Yes. An abscess will not heal on its own and can spread to the jaw and beyond if it is ignored. You should be seen promptly so we can drain the infection and relieve the pressure. If you have swelling that is spreading, a fever, or trouble breathing or swallowing, seek care right away.
Can a root canal treat an abscessed tooth?
In most cases, yes. After we drain the abscess, a root canal removes the infected pulp, cleans and disinfects the inside of the tooth, and seals it so bacteria cannot return. This treats the source of the infection and lets you keep your natural tooth.
What happens if a tooth abscess is left untreated?
Left untreated, the infection keeps growing and can destroy the bone around the tooth, spread into the jaw and soft tissue, and in serious cases move to other parts of the body. The pain may even fade for a while if the nerve dies, but the infection is still active. Treating it promptly is far safer and far more comfortable.
Will I get to keep my tooth?
Most of the time, yes. When an abscess is treated promptly, draining it and clearing the infection with a root canal usually saves the natural tooth. We always discuss every option for saving your tooth before extraction is ever considered.