February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The National Children’s Dental Health Month is a…
The Dangers of an Abscessed Tooth
It is no secret that an abscessed tooth causes pain, but are you aware of the importance of taking care of it right away? With many toothaches, patients tend to ignore the pain until it is unbearable, hoping that it will go away on its own. Unfortunately, with an abscess, the pain will not go away and the side effects only become worse.
What is an Abscessed Tooth?
An abscessed tooth is an infection in the mouth that typically occurs in the tooth’s roots or in the gums where the tooth meets the gum line. There are a variety of reasons why these infections occur, with the most common reason being severe tooth decay that was ignored. Other reasons include trauma to one or more teeth and gum disease that is left untreated. Any type of trauma or ailment that occurs to a tooth allows it to be affected by bacteria, which enters the tooth’s pulp and spreads into the roots.
What can Happen?
When an abscessed tooth is left on its own, the infection spreads beyond the pulp of the tooth, spreading into the jaw and could even go into further issues in the mouth. If the infection spreads into the bone of the tooth, it could eventually result in loss of the tooth either naturally or through tooth extraction. Aside from dental issues, if the abscess is near the sinuses the pus that is created from the infection can make its way into the sinuses causing an infection. In more serious cases, the infection could spread to the brain or heart, resulting in serious, if not fatal ailments.
Treatment
If you do have an abscessed tooth, treatment can be minimal if caught right away. The most important thing is to drain the pus, which is typically done through a root canal. If the root canal will not solve the issue, the tooth might be extracted altogether or an incision might need to be made in the gums to allow the pus to drain that way. To prevent the infection from spreading any further or becoming worse, an antibiotic is usually prescribed to ensure your well being.
If you suspect that you have an abscessed tooth, it is essential that you receive professional dental care right away. Allowing the pain to subside on its own can result in serious, if not permanent damage to your mouth as well as your overall health.
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Dr. Jordan Cooper is from Jacksonville, AR. His father is Dr. James Cooper, a Jonesboro, AR native and practicing dentist of 39 years and his mother, Tracy Cooper, is a dental hygienist from Little Rock. Dr. Cooper graduated high school from Central Arkansas Christian, after which he entered at the University of Arkansas as a Chancellor’s Scholar in 1998.
Dr. David Cole is a graduate from the University of Arkansas, receiving his degree in 2016, and is a huge Razorback fan! He then went to dental school at the University of Tennessee where he received his D.D.S. in 2021. He looks forward to getting to know the Central Arkansas area, and serving his community!
Dr. Rasmussen is a Hot Springs native who graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2017 (Go Bears). After receiving his D.D.S from The University of Tennessee in 2021, he is looking forward to serving the central Arkansas community and the wonderful people who live here.
Dr. James Cooper was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He studied at the University of New Mexico and graduated from dental school from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. After 2 years of dental experience with the Army, Dr. Cooper moved to Jacksonville in 1973 to practice dentistry.