Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed or infected tooth can be an extremely painful condition, but it isn’t something you just have to live with and it certainly won’t resolve itself without professional dental treatment. An abscessed tooth may cause severe, throbbing, and/or shooting pain in the area of the mouth where the infection is located and can ultimately lead to more serious systemic and medical conditions.

There are several common abscessed tooth causes such as:

Trauma – whether from a recent accident or from an injury that occurred years ago, tooth trauma can cause nerve damage that ultimately results in a tooth infection.
Deep decay – severe cavities that make contact with or aggravate the nerve can result in painful irritation and infection of the tooth and surrounding gums.
Cracked tooth – deep fractures in your teeth can allow for bacterial buildup along the nerve, which results in pain and can create a breeding ground for infection.
Deep restorations – fillings which are near the nerve root can cause inflammation, irritation or even infection over time

Abscessed tooth treatment options vary depending on the health of the remaining tooth structure as well as the condition of surrounding bone and gums. Under ideal circumstances, the abscessed or infected tooth can be saved and pain can be mitigated by undergoing a root canal. In cases where patients opt not to save the tooth or the chance of long term tooth survival is poor, the best course of action may be to remove the infected tooth altogether.

If you think you may be suffering from an abscessed tooth, we encourage you to give the team of experienced dentists at Kennerly Dental Group a call. In addition to our regular appointments, we often have the ability to provide our patients with same day emergency dental services. If you think or know you have an abscess, we encourage you to see one of our dentists so we can evaluate your oral health and recommend the best tooth infection treatment for your specific circumstances. Don’t wait until your abscessed tooth causes additional medical concerns, contact Kennerly Dental Group today, (314) 842-5177.