If you have had the misfortune to ever suffer from a dental abscess during your life, then it is highly likely that you never want to go through that kind of experience again.
However, if you have never been through this extremely uncomfortable experience, you may be wondering a bit more about it; what does a dental abscess feel like? How do I know if I have one? And, the most important question of all, what should I do about it?
At Chelsea and Fulham Dentist, our team can offer same-day emergency care to anyone who is presenting with the symptoms of a dental abscess. Our dentist Chelsea will aim to see you within 24 hours of you contacting us, so we can help get you out of discomfort and back to your daily routine in no time at all.
But, going back to the initial questions, it may not always be so easy to spot a dental abscess and in this article, our dentist Chelsea provides a short guide on what you need to know about this dental emergency.
It can happen suddenly
In most cases that we have seen, a patient has come to see our dentist Chelsea with a dental abscess and it is located under a tooth that is decayed. So, a check-up and a filling or crown could have prevented it from happening.
But, there are instances where an abscess can occur suddenly under one of your teeth, and may be due to trauma that has caused the tooth to become cracked or chipped. Alternatively, you may have already had a filling or crown, which has now come loose and has allowed bacteria and decay to set in underneath it.
It can be life-threatening
OK, so not to ring alarm bells here, but if you have an oral abscess, you will need to see our team as soon as possible.
Why? Because, if left untreated, not only will the abscess swell and become more uncomfortable, but it can burst and allow pus to enter the bloodstream causing sepsis. So, as soon as you notice swelling, discolouration or discomfort, be sure to call us.
It can be treated
Of course, abscesses can be treated by our team.
Depending on the condition of the tooth that the abscess is underneath, we will either offer a root canal or an extraction. We will only be able to perform these procedures once the abscess is under control with antibiotics.
It will probably be uncomfortable
Not to be alarmist, but if you have an extremely uncomfortable tooth in your mouth and there is swelling, you likely have an abscess.
Many people who have had abscesses have stated that it can feel like a burning, pressure, a bruise or even extreme sensitivity.
It can be prevented from happening again!
Luckily, once the abscess is gone and you have had either an extraction or root canal, you can prevent another abscess from occurring by staying up to date with your trips to see our team (every 6 months), flossing and brushing your teeth twice a day.
