Emergency Dentist: Dental Abscess – Las Vegas
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly one in five adults living in the U.S. have an untreated cavity. Untreated cavities can eventually lead to a dental abscess if you’re not careful. Keep reading to learn more about dental abscesses.
Are you worried you may have a dental abscess? Book an appointment online today for a dental emergency to get seen ASAP.
What Is a Dental Abscess?
A dental abscess is an infection that causes a pocket of pus to collect in the gums. A dental abscess has the potential to spread to your jawbone, surrounding teeth, and the rest of the body if left untreated.
What Causes a Dental Abscess?
Dental abscesses are caused by bacterial infections in the tooth and/or surrounding tissues. These infections are generally caused by:
- Extreme tooth decay (cavities): When cavities go untreated, they continue to spread, which can lead to infections getting severe enough to cause an abscess.
- Damage to one or more teeth: Cracks and chips in the teeth can allow bacteria to get inside the tooth. Any trauma to the tooth can potentially damage the pulp (the center of the tooth where the blood vessels and nerves are located) and lead to an infection.
- Gum disease: Gum disease can lead to bacteria gaining easier access to the surrounding tissues deeper inside your gums. This can lead to periodontal abscesses.
The three main types of infections that cause abscesses are:
- Gingival: An infection located in the gums.
- Periapical: Periapical abscesses happen when bacteria get into your tooth’s pulp and then spread to the tooth’s root. Over time, the bacteria spread to the bone and cause an abscess to form.
- Periodontal: When the infection begins in the bone and the tooth’s surrounding tissues.
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What Are the Symptoms of a Dental Abscess?
The Mayo Clinic notes that dental abscess symptoms often include:
- Sharp, consistent, and throbbing pain in a tooth, jaw, neck, or ear
- Dental sensitivity to temperature
- Trouble chewing without discomfort
- Swelling in the face, cheek, neck, or jaw
- Fever
- Difficulty swallowing
- Tenderness and swelling in the lymph nodes
- A bad smell in your mouth and/or salty-tasting fluid in your mouth
What Is the Treatment for a Dental Abscess?
Treating a dental abscess tends to include one or more of the following treatments, according to the Cleveland Clinic:
- Draining the pocket of pus: A small cut is made into the abscess to allow the pus to drain out. In severe cases, a tiny piece of rubber may be placed to allow the infected fluid to continue draining.
- Root canal: This route may need to be done to remove the infected pulp and fill it with a protective material to prevent further infection. A dental crown may also be placed to protect the tooth from further damage.
- Extracting the affected tooth: If the infected tooth is too damaged, a full extraction will need to take place to protect the surrounding teeth and structures. For a tooth extraction near you, check out Absolute Dental.
- Antibiotics: Your dentist may recommend antibiotics in addition to your treatment to assist in clearing any remaining infection from your body.
Who Is at Risk for a Dental Abscess?
If you have one or more of the following medical or lifestyle factors, you’re at a higher risk of dental abscesses:
- If you have poor dental hygiene: Seeing your dentist regularly, brushing with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day, and flossing daily greatly reduce the risk of dental abscesses.
- If you’re a smoker: People who smoke are two times more likely to experience a dental abscess than those who don’t smoke.
- If you consume too much sugar: Excess sugar in foods and drinks can lead to cavities, which makes you more likely to experience a dental abscess.
- If you have a dry mouth: Dry mouth increases the chance of tooth decay.
- If you have a weakened immune system: A weakened immune system from disease or medication makes it more difficult for the body to fight off germs in the mouth.
We Accept Most Dental Insurance
Absolute Dental is a preferred provider for most insurances, unions, and hotels that include: Aetna, Ameritas, Boon-Chapman, Caesars Palace, Cigna, Delta Dental, Diversified, Geha, Guardian, Harrah’s, HealthSCOPE Benefits, Health Plan of Nevada (HPN), Humana, Liberty, Met-Life, MGM-MIRAGE, Premier Access, The Standard, Station Casinos, Teachers Health Trust, United Concordia, United Healthcare, Venetian, and The Zenith. We also accept Medicaid.
If you do not see your dental insurance listed here, just give us a call to confirm!
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FAQ
The Cleveland Clinic notes that a dental abscess generally looks like a swollen bump on the gums that may resemble a boil or pimple.
No. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the pain stopping likely means that the infection has killed the pulp in your tooth, disconnecting the signals to the nerve. This means the infection has spread and is still spreading; you just can’t feel it anymore.
No. According to the Mayo Clinic, a dental abscess will not heal on its own and can potentially lead to the infection spreading to the rest of your body, which can be fatal in severe cases. A 2023 study found that while the outcome for dental abscesses is good, the mortality rate went up by 40% when patients delayed treatment and developed mediastinitis (an infection in the chest cavity).
Dental abscesses are a serious, unpleasant, and often very painful dental condition. Luckily, we have Las Vegas emergency dentists who can help. At Absolute Dental, you will also find services to prevent any future abscesses, such as affordable dental exams, X-rays with a cleaning for as little as $69.00, discount wisdom teeth extraction and dental implants, and braces starting as low as $89.00 a month.
Sources:
About Cavities (Tooth Decay). (2024).
Abscessed Tooth. (2023).
Sanders, J. (2023). Dental Abscesses.
Tooth abscess. (2022).