Will a dentist pull an abscessed tooth?

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An abscessed tooth can be very uncomfortable at best, and cause debilitating pain at worst. In most cases, removal of the abscessed tooth by a dentist is the best solution. If you have a painful tooth condition, contact a dentist without delay.

What is an abscessed tooth?

An abscessed tooth is one that has developed an infection because the pulp died due to decay or because of an injury. When tissue dies, it can lead to root-level infection. If allowed to continue to spread, it can deteriorate the jawbone and even spread to other tooth loss. Contact a dentist for an exam to treat your abscessed tooth before it can cause more problems and additional painful conditions.

What are the symptoms of an abscessed tooth?

As your dentist may tell you, symptoms of an abscessed tooth can vary from patient to patient and on the severity of the condition. Some of the most common symptoms include the following:

• Extreme and constant toothache.
• A foul taste in the mouth.
• Pressure sensation in the affected area.
• Swollen gums.
• Reddened gums.
• Facial swelling.
• Jaw swelling.

How is an abscessed tooth treated by a dentist?

The answer to this question will depend on your dentist’s assessment of your abscessed tooth. There are several methods and only after a thorough exam will it become clear to your dentist how best to proceed. For some patients, the dentist will perform root canal therapy. For many other patients, the solution may be to extract the abscessed tooth and this is quite common.

How is an abscessed tooth extracted?

Before the procedure begins, your dentist will likely offer you an antibiotic to prevent the abscessed tooth’s infection from spreading to other teeth and areas of the mouth. Then, your dentist will pull the abscessed tooth similarly to how any other tooth is pulled. Your mouth will be cleaned to remove substances that could cause infection. The type of anesthesia you receive may depend on your preferences.  After your mouth is completely numbed and your tooth is extracted, your dentist may do the following:

• Cut sections of the gum tissue surrounding the area where the abscessed tooth was located.
• Expose the root by pulling back the edges of the cut.
• Extract the root and fully remove the tooth.
• Sew shut the opened gum tissue.
• Clean the mouth again.
• You will be asked to bite down on medical gauze until the blood from the gum has clotted.
• The clotting will help prevent bacteria from entering the surgical area of your mouth and also minimize the loss of blood. For these reasons, it’s important that you follow your dentist’s instructions very carefully.
• You will likely be prescribed antibiotics and painkillers after the procedure.

If you are concerned that you may have an abscessed tooth, contact a dentist San Clemente, CA trusts without delay. They will make every effort to accommodate the urgent nature of your painful condition. Call to arrange an exam.

Thank you to our friends and contributors at John Redmond Orthodontics for their insight into dentistry and an abscessed tooth.