Could you have an abscessed tooth? There are various situations where a person may develop an abscessed tooth without realizing it until they have some of the most severe warning signs. Keep in mind that this is an infection and something that should be taken care of right away. Doing so can help to improve your smile while minimizing your health risks. At Lovett Dental Katy, our team is happy to help restore the healthy of your teeth and gums through our dental services.
What Is an Abscessed Tooth?
A tooth abscess occurs when a pocket of pus develops in your oral cavity. This is most commonly found at the tip of the tooth’s root or at the side of the tooth’s root. In all cases, it is brought on by a bacterial infection. It can occur for various reasons, but typically is the type of dental health problem that needs to be taken care of right away to minimize health risks.
How Do You Know You Have an Abscessed Tooth?
The only way to truly know if you have an abscessed tooth is to visit your dentist. They will examine the tooth and surrounding area and look at x-rays to find out what is happening under the surface. This can tell your dentist what type of treatment you might need.
There are three key signs to look for to know that you have an abscessed tooth and you need medical care:
1. Pain and Discomfort
A tooth abscess is a painful experience. It can worsen over time as well. Most people feel a severe and persistent type of toothache. It may radiate from the area in the mouth into the jawbone, neck, and ears. You may feel like this pain is throbbing and severe. It is hard to ignore, and pain medications do not always help.
2. Fever and Swollen Lymph Nodes
Keep in mind that you may develop a fever if you have an abscessed tooth. This is an infection. Your body’s response to this type of infection is to increase your body temperature to fight it off. If you have a fever, especially if you also have swollen lymph nodes or tender areas along the sides of your neck, it is important to take medication and see your doctor if the fever does not go down.
3. Changes in Appearance, Smell, and Feeling
Another sign of a tooth abscess occurs when you experienced changes such as swelling in your chew or gum area. You may also feel as though there is a lot of pressure when you bite down or chew on something. It may be so painful to do this that you do not want to eat. Some people also experience a foul smell coming from their mouth. They may have a fluid in their mouth that is foul-smelling as well. This is generally due to the infection.
What to Do When You Think You Need General Dentistry Services?
Our general dentistry services can help you with healing your abscessed tooth. Our team can drain it for you and provide you with the additional services you need to restore your teeth and gums to full health. We offer a range of services in our Katy office. These include:
- General dentistry exams
- Root canal procedures
- Tooth extraction procedures
- Periodontal disease treatment
- Fluoride treatment procedures
Schedule an Appointment with Lovett Dental Katy Today
If you have tooth pain and discomfort, that’s a good indication that you need to come in for a dentist appointment. An abscessed tooth can worsen quickly and cause complications. We may be able to help you avoid this when you call Lovett Dental Katy for an appointment. Schedule it with us online or call 832-437-6477 for help.
