Can tooth infections lead to migraines. How does an abscessed tooth affect overall health. What are the symptoms of a dental abscess. How can dental problems cause dizziness and ear pain. When should you seek treatment for tooth-related headaches.

Understanding Dental Abscesses and Their Symptoms

A dental abscess is a pocket of pus that forms in various parts of a tooth due to bacterial infection. This condition can arise from poor dental hygiene, mouth injuries, or medical complications affecting the immune system. The primary symptoms of an abscessed tooth include:

• Throbbing pain in or around the tooth or gum
• Swelling in the affected area
• Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
• Pain that radiates to the ear or neck
• Difficulty swallowing or opening the mouth

Is an abscessed tooth a serious condition? Indeed, if left untreated, it can lead to severe, life-threatening complications. The infection can spread to other parts of the body, potentially affecting vital organs. Therefore, prompt treatment by an experienced dentist is crucial when dealing with an abscessed tooth.

The Connection Between Tooth Infections and Headaches

Many people experiencing both toothache and headache wonder if these symptoms are related. In fact, there is a strong connection between dental health and headaches, particularly migraines. How does this relationship work?

The link between toothaches and migraines is closely connected to the trigeminal nerve. This nerve provides sensation to the face, including the teeth, gums, and jaws. Medical experts believe that the trigeminal nerve plays a critical role in migraine pathogenesis. Consequently, an underlying tooth infection could impact the supplying trigeminal nerve branch and trigger a migraine.

Are all headaches associated with tooth infections migraines? Not necessarily. While migraines are common, patients may also experience tension headaches or generalized head pain due to dental issues.

Dizziness and Dental Health: An Unexpected Connection

Can a tooth infection cause dizziness? Surprisingly, yes. When left untreated, infections in the mouth, teeth, or gums can affect your overall health in unexpected ways. Some patients report feeling lightheaded or experiencing balance issues, leading to dizziness.

Why does this happen? In severe cases, the infection can spread and start to affect the nerves responsible for maintaining balance. This explains why some people experience vertigo or dizziness along with their tooth pain.

Are there specific dental procedures that can cause dizziness? Some patients report feeling dizzy after root canal procedures or wisdom tooth extractions. This is often temporary and should subside as you heal. However, if dizziness persists, it’s crucial to consult your dentist or healthcare provider.

The Surprising Link Between Toothaches and Ear Pain

Can a toothache cause ear pain? It might seem unlikely, but there is indeed a connection between dental issues and ear discomfort. Why is this the case? Your nose, throat, and ears are connected through a network of passageways, canals, and tubes. This intricate system means that problems in one area can manifest as symptoms in another.

How does this connection work in practice? Your teeth, jaw, and gums are closely linked to your ears. Thus, ear pain can sometimes be an indication of an underlying dental problem. This relationship underscores the importance of maintaining good oral health for overall well-being.

Does treating dental issues alleviate ear pain? Many patients find that undergoing restorative treatments or regular dental cleanings reduces the occurrence of ear pain. If you’re experiencing persistent ear discomfort, it may be worth scheduling an appointment with your dentist to rule out any dental causes.

Common Dental Problems That Can Trigger Headaches and Dizziness

Several dental issues can lead to headaches and dizziness. Understanding these conditions can help you identify potential causes and seek appropriate treatment. Here are some common culprits:

1. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders: These can cause pain in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, often leading to headaches.
2. Bruxism (Teeth Grinding): This habit, especially when done unconsciously during sleep, can cause tension headaches and jaw pain.
3. Malocclusion: Misaligned teeth can create tension in the jaw muscles, potentially triggering headaches.
4. Impacted Wisdom Teeth: These can cause pressure and pain that may radiate to other parts of the head.
5. Dental Abscesses: As discussed earlier, these infections can cause referred pain and other systemic symptoms.

How can you determine if your headaches are dental-related? If you experience persistent head pain that doesn’t respond to typical treatments, consider consulting a dentist. They can examine your oral health and identify any dental issues that might be contributing to your headaches or dizziness.

The Impact of Root Canal Complications on Head Health

Root canal treatment is a common dental procedure, but in rare cases, it can lead to complications that affect head health. How can a root canal cause headaches or dizziness?

Complications from root canal treatment may result in headaches and feelings of dizziness or vertigo. These issues typically arise when dealing with an inexperienced dentist or when root canal equipment breaks during the procedure. In some cases, severely curved canals may lead to incomplete filling, which can cause ongoing problems.

What symptoms might indicate root canal complications? Watch out for persistent pain, swelling, or a sensation of pressure in the treated tooth. If you experience these symptoms along with headaches or dizziness following a root canal, it’s essential to consult your dentist promptly.

Prevention and Treatment: Maintaining Dental Health to Avoid Headaches

Given the connection between dental health and headaches, maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial. How can you prevent dental-related headaches and other complications?

• Brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste
• Floss daily to remove plaque between teeth
• Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings
• Address dental issues promptly to prevent them from worsening
• Wear a mouthguard if you grind your teeth at night
• Maintain a balanced diet low in sugary and acidic foods

When should you seek treatment for tooth-related headaches? If you experience persistent headaches along with dental pain or other oral symptoms, it’s important to consult a dentist. They can diagnose the underlying issue and recommend appropriate treatment, which may include:

• Antibiotics for dental infections
• Root canal therapy for severely infected teeth
• Tooth extraction in cases of impacted wisdom teeth
• Orthodontic treatment for malocclusion
• TMJ therapy for jaw joint disorders

By addressing dental issues promptly, you can often alleviate associated headaches and improve your overall quality of life. Remember, your oral health is intricately connected to your general well-being, so don’t neglect your dental care.

The Role of Interdisciplinary Care in Managing Dental-Related Headaches

Managing headaches caused by dental issues often requires a multidisciplinary approach. How can different healthcare professionals work together to address these complex cases?

Dentists, neurologists, and pain management specialists may collaborate to provide comprehensive care. For instance, a dentist might address the underlying dental problem, while a neurologist could help manage migraine symptoms. In some cases, physical therapy or alternative treatments like acupuncture might also be beneficial.

Why is this interdisciplinary approach important? Dental-related headaches can be complex, involving multiple systems in the body. By bringing together expertise from different fields, healthcare providers can offer more effective, personalized treatment plans that address all aspects of a patient’s condition.

The Psychological Impact of Chronic Dental Pain and Headaches

Chronic pain, whether from dental issues or persistent headaches, can have a significant impact on mental health. How does ongoing pain affect a person’s psychological well-being?

Individuals dealing with chronic dental pain and headaches may experience:

• Increased stress and anxiety
• Mood changes, including irritability and depression
• Sleep disturbances
• Reduced quality of life
• Social isolation due to pain and discomfort

How can patients cope with the psychological impact of chronic pain? Seeking support from mental health professionals can be beneficial. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness techniques, and stress management strategies can help individuals develop coping mechanisms and improve their overall well-being while dealing with chronic pain.

Emerging Research: New Insights into the Dental-Headache Connection

As our understanding of the relationship between dental health and headaches continues to evolve, new research is shedding light on this complex connection. What are some recent findings in this field?

Studies are exploring the role of inflammation in both dental infections and migraine pathophysiology. Some researchers suggest that dental infections might trigger or exacerbate migraines through inflammatory pathways. Additionally, investigations into the gut-brain axis are revealing potential links between oral bacteria, gut health, and neurological symptoms like headaches.

How might these findings impact future treatments? As we gain a deeper understanding of these connections, new treatment approaches may emerge. For instance, targeting specific inflammatory pathways or addressing gut health might become part of comprehensive treatment plans for dental-related headaches.

The Importance of Patient Education in Dental Health

Education plays a crucial role in preventing and managing dental issues that can lead to headaches. How can improved patient education make a difference?

By understanding the potential consequences of poor oral hygiene and the importance of regular dental check-ups, patients can take proactive steps to maintain their dental health. This knowledge can lead to earlier detection and treatment of dental problems, potentially preventing the development of chronic pain conditions and associated headaches.

What should dental health education focus on? Key areas include:

• Proper brushing and flossing techniques
• The importance of regular dental check-ups
• Early signs of dental problems to watch for
• The connection between oral health and overall well-being
• The potential consequences of untreated dental issues

By empowering patients with this knowledge, healthcare providers can help reduce the incidence of dental-related headaches and improve overall health outcomes.

Technological Advancements in Diagnosing Dental-Related Headaches

Advancements in medical and dental technology are improving our ability to diagnose and treat dental issues that cause headaches. What new tools and techniques are available?

• 3D imaging technologies for more accurate dental diagnostics
• Advanced neuroimaging techniques to study the brain-dental connection
• Wearable devices for monitoring jaw movement and muscle tension
• AI-powered analysis of dental and medical records to identify patterns and risk factors

How do these technologies benefit patients? By providing more accurate diagnoses and allowing for earlier detection of issues, these advancements can lead to more effective, targeted treatments. This can potentially reduce the duration and severity of dental-related headaches, improving patients’ quality of life.

The Global Impact of Dental-Related Headaches

Dental-related headaches are not just a personal health issue; they have broader societal impacts. How do these conditions affect communities and economies on a global scale?

The prevalence of dental problems and associated headaches can lead to:

• Reduced workforce productivity due to missed workdays
• Increased healthcare costs for individuals and systems
• Strain on dental and medical resources in underserved areas
• Quality of life impacts that affect social and economic participation

What steps can be taken to address these global impacts? Improving access to dental care, especially in underserved communities, is crucial. Additionally, public health initiatives focusing on oral health education and prevention can help reduce the incidence of dental problems and associated headaches on a population level.

Can Toothache Cause Headache: Abscessed Tooth Pain

If you are suffering from a toothache and headache, it is natural to marvel if both symptoms are related. Throbbing pain or swelling in or around your tooth or gum. Usually, abscessed tooth pain is an indication that something is wrong with your gums or tooth. Perhaps your toothache is causing your headache, or both may be an indication of a serious underlying health problem such as a sinus infection. Read on to find out the answer to this question: “Can toothache cause headache?”

A dental abscess is a pocket of pus forming in various parts of your tooth due to a bacterial infection. This infection can occur due to injury to the mouth, medical complications that impact your immune system, or poor dental hygiene. If a tooth infection is not promptly treated, a patient may also develop a migraine, a throbbing one-sided headache associated with nausea or vomiting. An abscessed tooth can cause moderate to severe pain, which can even radiate to your ear or neck. If left untreated, abscessed tooth pain can graduate into a severe, life-threatening condition. Therefore, an abscessed tooth should instantly be treated by an experienced dentist.

Can a Tooth Infection Cause Dizziness?

If you had an infected tooth in the past, you understand how painful it can be. But do you know a tooth infection can affect your overall health and body in unexpected ways? When left untreated, gum, tooth, and mouth infections can make you feel lightheaded; use your balance to make you feel dizzy. This indicates that the infection has spread and started to affect the nerves, which impacts your balance.

Toothaches are painful conditions that can occur due to various reasons. While most common signs of a tooth abscess include gum tenderness, a sore jaw, swelling, or throbbing pain, other complications may be experienced, including vertigo and headache. Certain conditions and diseases may lead to dizziness when experiencing abscessed tooth pain, as can the adverse effects of specific medications. Dizziness after root canal procedure and extraction of the wisdom tooth are also major culprits.

Can Toothache Cause Migraine?

There are several reasons behind aching tooth-like impacted wisdom teeth, cracked teeth, and cavities, to mention a few. If such conditions remain untreated, a patient may develop migraine (one-sided severe headache) that may cause you to vomit or have nausea.

Experts suggest that the way toothaches cause migraines are closely connected to the trigeminal nerve. The nerve offers sensation to your face, including your lower and upper hip, gums, and teeth. Since medical experts strongly believe that the trigeminal nerve plays a critical role in migraine pathogenesis, it makes sense to say that an underlying tooth infection could impact the supplying trigeminal nerve branch and, as a result, cause a migraine.

Can Toothache Cause Ear Pain?

Coming down with an earache or toothache can wreak havoc in your daily schedule, not to name the pain these ailments can bring. But can a toothache make your ear hurt? Your nose, throat, and ears are connected via a delicate network of passageways, canals, and tubes. That’s why diagnosing a problem in these areas calls for an assessment of the others.

Ear pain can emanate from dental problems. Your teeth, jaw and gums are inextricably connected to your ears. Thus ear pain can be an indication of an underlying dental problem. This explains why maintaining proper oral health is crucial for the quality of your life. You may note that undergoing restorative treatments or regular cleanings reduces the occurrence of ear pain. If you search for relief for ear pain caused by dental problems, schedule an appointment with an experienced dentist today.

Check our recent post: “5 Most Common Dental Problems and Their Treatment”

Dental Problems that Can Cause Headaches and Dizziness

Did you know that persistent or constant pain in your head can be treated more effectively by your dentist than your general physician? The cause of headaches is often elusive; they can range from mildly irritating to unrelentingly painful. Since frequent pain can adversely affect the quality of your life, if you experience persistent pain that does not clear even after being treated by a physician, you may wish to see your dentist.

Dizziness is the feeling of being woozy, unbalanced, or lightheaded. However, it is not a disease but rather a symptom of various dental problems or health disorders. Here are dental problems that can lead to headaches and dizziness:

Complications from root canal treatment may result in headaches and feelings of dizziness or vertigo. Problems usually occur when dealing with an inexperienced dentist or when the root canal equipment breaks. Severely-curved canals may lead to incomplete feeling. Canal perforation is another challenge, as is overfilling. Infections coming from canal procedure can cause dizziness; however, reaction to specific pain medications following such procedure may also cause lightheadedness or dizziness.

Teeth grinding (Bruxism) and TMJD are two problems in the dental world that can cause frequent headaches. This problem occurs as a result of problems with your jaw and surrounding muscles, and most of the time is the result of an injury to the joint. Anything from sports trauma to whiplash or even something small such as opening your mouth too wide for long in your dentist’s office can cause the temporomandibular joint disorder.

Check our detail post on “How to Stop Clenching Teeth and Grinding (Bruxism)”

If you notice that you usually wake up with a headache that vanishes shortly after rising, you may probably be grinding your teeth. Apart from above mentioned dental problems, it is also worth mentioning that headache pain or dizziness can be caused by more familiar issues like tooth infection, an abscess, or cavities.

See Your Dentist Today for Toothache and Headache

If your tooth pain is severe or is a result of a severe medical condition, see your dentist to have it treated properly. Besides, you need to maintain proper oral hygiene to prevent tooth infections or decay. This implies brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. Don’t keep silent with your pain. Even a headache is something that a dentist can be able to assist you with. If you think that your headache and tooth pain are related, book an appointment online with Dr. William Fitzgerald or call us at 615-689-7582 to regain your healthy smile today!

Is There a Dental Connection with Headaches?

Jul 01, 2020

If you are suffering from a toothache and a headache simultaneously, you may wonder whether both are related in some way. Your toothache could be triggering your trouble, or maybe the two are indicating signs of an underlying health problem like a TMJ disorder or a sinus infection.

This blog is looking at some connections between toothaches and headaches and what they mean for your care.

Toothaches Can Trigger a Migraine

A toothache has many reasons, which could be cavities, cracked teeth, impacted wisdom teeth, and other conditions. When these issues are not treated, you can develop a migraine often on one side of the head that is associated with vomiting, nausea, or sensitivity to light and sound. If the condition of your oral health is triggering a migraine, it will become crucial for you to seek treatment for the underlying issue before worrying about the headache.

Tooth Problems Referring Pain to Your Head

Tooth decay or advanced periodontitis can also refer pain to the head, just like a migraine. In simple terms, it means that you begin feeling a painful sensation in a different part of your body from the painful part. This is because of the many nerve connections connecting the teeth and other structures of the face to the brain.

Many patients are seeking emergency dental care for migraines or tension-type headaches when, in reality, they are experiencing a dental issue. For example, bruxism causes referred pain to the head. Bruxism is a condition when people grind and clench their teeth when sleeping. The resultant headache from bruxism is reported as dull pain wrapping around the head or occurring behind the eyes. Sore teeth and jaw muscles, trouble opening and closing the mouth, or clicking sounds in the jaw joint is familiar with this condition.

In rare conditions, an untreated dental issue can turn into a severe life-threatening infection known as cavernous sinus thrombosis, causing severe headaches usually behind the eye or the forehead. Other symptoms associated with cavernous sinus thrombosis include swelling in the eyelids, protrusion of the eyeball, high fever, and weakness of the eye movement.

Underlying Health Issues Causing Headaches and Toothaches Simultaneously

Some conditions can cause headaches and toothaches simultaneously but are not related to dental or primary headache disorders. It could be:

TMJ disorder

A temporomandibular joint disorder referring to a problem with the jaw joint located in front of the ear and the muscles surrounding it is a condition commonly observed by dentists because it causes toothaches. TMJ disorders can also cause headaches, which are usually described as an aching pain beginning near the ear and moving towards the jaw, neck, or temple. These headaches are generally a result of jaw motions like opening and closing the mouth or chewing.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Irritation of the trigeminal nerve results in disorder known as trigeminal neuralgia. The disease causes excruciating shock-like facial pain on one side of the face. The pain is felt along the upper or lower jaw in most cases, which is one of the reasons why people visit their dentist initially to understand whether they are suffering from an abscessed tooth. It is quite common for a patient to undergo multiple root canals or extractions before they receive a diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia.

What Do Simultaneous Toothaches and Headaches Mean?

If you are suffering from a new headache or toothache, do not ignore the problem but make it a point to see your doctor as soon as possible. Identifying the underlying issue can be tricky even for healthcare providers, and therefore your persistence will help in sorting out the problem. It is recommended that you visit the Wenatchee dentist if you have undergone dental procedures for toothaches without finding relief because it is reasonable to discuss with your primary care provider before visiting a specialist. Your dentist may refer you to a headache specialist, neurologist, or an ENT doctor to have your condition diagnosed.

Ultimately getting to the bottom of your toothache or headache can be challenging and tedious. However, you can rest assured that you can move forward with the treatment plan after being diagnosed by your doctor. The method may be as simple as some antibiotics for a sinus infection or getting a cavity filled. It may also require wearing an occlusal device like a nightguard and other methods to avoid grinding and clenching your teeth.

Tooth abscess – symptoms, causes and treatment

Tooth abscess is a focus of accumulation of pus in the area of ​​the root of the tooth with clearly defined boundaries. An inflammatory disease that differs from periostitis (flux) in that the periosteum is not involved in the process.

An abscess is formed due to the multiplication of various pathogenic bacteria, usually we are talking about anaerobic flora – peptostreptococci, enterobacteria, Staphylococcus aureus. Treatment of a tooth abscess is mandatory, otherwise there is a possibility of complications.

Causes of a tooth abscess

The development of an abscess may be associated with the following factors:

• trauma, for example, due to the careless use of a toothpick, traumatic removal of subgingival tartar, or getting a fish bone in the space between the tooth and gum;
• swelling, inflammation of the gums;
• fracture of the tooth root or perforation of the root wall during endodontic treatment;
• periodontitis, pericoronitis, periodontitis.

Main symptoms

Often the first symptom of a tooth abscess is an exacerbation of the underlying chronic disease. For example, in periodontitis, inflammation of the tissues surrounding the root changes from chronic to acute, which may be accompanied by pain when biting. With pericoronitis, there is swelling and redness of the tissues surrounding the erupting tooth.

In general, symptoms are manifested by aching pain of varying severity. When pressing on the causative tooth, the pain becomes stronger, it can spread along the course of the trigeminal nerve to neighboring teeth. The mucous membrane of the tissues around the diseased tooth turns red, swelling and bad breath appear. A plaque may form on the tongue, and saliva becomes more viscous.

The inflammatory process gradually increases, the tissues thicken, swelling develops in the face and neck. The pain extends beyond the jaw, becomes throbbing. Because of this, it can be difficult for a person to chew food and open their mouth wide.

Sometimes the symptoms of a tooth abscess are tooth mobility, lymphadenitis – an increase in the lymph nodes in the affected area. As inflammation increases, symptoms of general intoxication increase, body temperature rises up to 40 ° C, there is a breakdown, headache, sweating.

Types and stages of tooth abscess

There are several forms of the disease, each of which is characterized by its own characteristics and symptoms. Types of abscesses:

1. gingival: inflammation affects only the soft tissues of the gums, while the ligamentous apparatus is not involved in the pathological process;
2. periodontal: the focus of purulent inflammation is located in the periodontal tissues surrounding the tooth, between the bone and the healthy surface of the soft tissue;
3. periapical: the inflammatory process develops in the region of the root apex, there is a high probability of developing a fistulous tract;
4. pericoronal: purulent inflammation is localized in the gum above the erupting tooth, usually in the hood over the “eight”.

According to the severity of the course of the disease, abscesses are conditionally divided into the following types:

• mild: only one anatomical region is involved in inflammation;
• moderate: inflammation extends to two anatomical regions or more;
• severe: in this case we are talking about abscesses of the floor of the mouth, neck, face, a combination of an abscess of the temporal region with the infratemporal and pterygopalatine fossae.

Acute and subacute stages are distinguished according to the characteristics of the course.

Possible complications

An abscess under a tooth is dangerous if it opens on its own. This leads to pain relief, and the person may feel that no treatment is needed. But in the absence of adequate surgical care, this condition can be complicated by the spread of infection to the tissues of the jaw, parts of the head, neck, and the development of severe complications. Among them are the following diseases:

• Phlebitis, thrombophlebitis – if the focus of infection is located close to the veins, inflammation may occur with the further formation of a blood clot. First, the inflammatory process affects the walls of the blood vessel, after which it spreads to the surrounding tissues. The blood flow slows down, the composition of the blood changes, coagulation rates increase, this leads to the formation of a blood clot.
• Mediastinitis is an inflammation of the mediastinum, or a complex of organs in the chest cavity. The infection can enter through the blood or lymph.
• Sepsis – the most severe complication of purulent inflammation, develops, as a rule, with the failure of immune forces.
• Meningitis, brain abscess and other complications from the central nervous system.

An abscess can lead to a deepening of the inflammatory process, the development of periostitis, or flux, as well as phlegmon (diffuse purulent inflammation) and other serious complications. That is why it is necessary to treat the abscess on time.

Methods of diagnosis

Diagnosis of abscess of the gums of the tooth and foci of inflammation, located deeper, is based on the data of the survey and examination. The doctor will pay attention to the redness, swelling of the gums. An abscess may look like a bump, that is, be a limited swelling of a rounded shape.

The dentist will touch the formation, note the pain, and also pay attention to the mobility of the teeth. If a periodontal pocket is present, probing is performed to assess its depth. Sometimes, when pressed, purulent contents appear.

There are several main criteria by which the doctor will determine the localization of the outbreak:

1. the presence of a “causal”, that is, a diseased or injured tooth;
2. the severity of inflammation;
3. jaw movement disorders
4. the presence or absence of difficulty in swallowing.

The doctor will evaluate the severity, type of inflammation, local symptoms. When developing further examination tactics, age, severity of the condition, the presence or absence of concomitant or general somatic, neuroendocrine and other diseases will be taken into account.

Your doctor may recommend microbiological tests, general blood and urine tests to assess your general health.

X-rays are often taken, it allows you to clarify information that the source of the disease is the tooth, as well as determine the depth of inflammation.

Features of the treatment of a tooth abscess

Treatment of a tooth abscess can proceed both with the preservation of the causative tooth and with its removal. Moreover, dentists do everything to preserve their own unit of the patient’s dentition, the principles of tooth-preserving operations make it possible to eliminate the need for further prosthetics.

Extraction may be indicated only in cases where it is not possible to save the tooth due to severe trauma, such as root fracture, as well as decay, or high risks of spreading inflammation.

The approach to treatment is always systematic. The dentist-surgeon will take into account all the necessary information about the person’s condition, namely:

• determine the severity of the condition;
• evaluate the history, find out how long ago and where exactly the pain appeared, how the nature of the symptoms changed;
• evaluate visual inspection data.

After that, the optimal treatment tactics will be developed: the method of surgical intervention, if necessary, will be chosen, as well as medications.

Surgical treatment

The main treatment for a tooth abscess is surgery. The operation allows you to instantly alleviate the condition, eliminate the cause of the disease, remove pus. There are two types of intervention:

• conservative: the doctor accesses the root canal and apex through the crown of the tooth
• surgical: the dentist makes an incision in the gum area and drains the tissue or removes the tooth

A combination of medical and surgical methods may be required.

Removal of pus involves drainage, therefore, immediately after this, the canals are not filled – first, a normal outflow of purulent exudate is ensured, treatment with antiseptics is carried out, this requires up to several visits. After the inflammation subsides, in the absence of contraindications, the doctor will fill the roots and crowns with permanent materials.

During surgical treatment, an incision is made on the gum, which allows the removal of purulent contents. But it is important to prevent premature tissue healing, otherwise there may be a possibility of relapse or fistula formation.

Drainage is performed, that is, a special rubber band is inserted into the incision area, this prevents healing and ensures the outflow of pathological fluid for a while. After that, the specialist will prescribe rinses and medicinal solutions, as well as the date of the next visit.

Tooth extraction is another surgical method of treatment, it is carried out only under strict indications, for example:

• the impossibility of restoring a tooth destroyed by caries – damage to 2/3 of the crown, as well as the root;
• root fracture;
• severe inflammation with a high risk of complications.

Also, a wisdom tooth abscess most often requires removal.

Drug therapy

The use of drugs can be both an independent method and an addition to the operation. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics, taking into account the immune status, allergic reactions, the main method of treatment, if any, and the results of laboratory tests. The dentist will prescribe antibiotic therapy according to a suitable scheme. Usually, systemic antibiotics are required for moderate to severe conditions when symptoms of general intoxication occur.

Antibacterial therapy may be an alternative to surgery when surgery is contraindicated for one reason or another. But more often we are dealing with taking antibiotics after surgical treatment, this is required for at least another 2-3 days after improvement. Usually, effective treatment allows you to feel better after 2 days, completely eliminate symptoms after 4-5 days.

The selection of antibiotics does not always require the determination of the causative agent of the disease and sensitivity to antibacterial agents. The bacteria that cause odontogenic infections are well understood. However, in some cases, the sampling of material for bacteriological examination is still required; this allows you to adjust antibiotic therapy for persistent inflammation.

The deeper the inflammatory process is, the more attention and intensive treatment the disease requires. It is important to consult a doctor with the appearance of the first symptoms and not to start the disease. At the same time, it is categorically not recommended to choose and take antibiotics on your own, this can lead to a worsening of the condition.

After the treatment, it is necessary to control the state of health, contact the surgeon for examination the next day after the surgical treatment. This will allow you to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, to determine how the body reacts to the treatment. Also, such a measure will allow timely detection of allergic reactions, adjust the treatment regimen, and see the side effects of drugs.

Prognosis and prevention

In case of an abscess under the tooth, the doctor most often decides on a tooth-preserving operation. But much depends on the response to the ongoing treatment. A variety of factors can affect the forecast:

1. whether there is destruction of the alveolar bone;
2. whether the area of ​​the tooth where the branching of the root system occurs is involved in inflammation;
3. what are the anatomical, functional features of the tooth, was there any initial mobility;
4. why did the abscess develop?
5. age, general health of a person, features of the health of his dentoalveolar system;
6. the presence of somatic, endocrine pathologies, bruxism, malocclusion.

Features of the course of purulent inflammation largely depend on the overall resistance of the body, what microflora caused the pathological process, what are the anatomical features in the affected area.

Thus, under unfavorable conditions, adjacent tissues are often involved in the inflammatory process, for example, the neck, eye orbits, and this is fraught with serious consequences, even fatal.

To reduce the risk of formidable complications, careful and precise adherence to the doctor’s recommendations is required.

Prevention of purulent abscess of the tooth consists in the timely treatment of infectious, inflammatory and other diseases of the oral cavity. It is important to prevent caries and its complications, inflammatory gum disease, and take measures to prevent the development of periodontal disease. This requires high-quality and proper oral care, it includes the following measures:

• regular professional teeth cleaning twice a year, which allows you to remove tartar and plaque and at the same time perform a dental examination;
• daily home hygiene – brushing your teeth twice a day with a brush with suitable bristles and toothpaste, using mouthwash after each meal, using dental floss;
• a balanced diet, eating solid foods, reducing sugar and sugary snacks between meals.

Dental abscesses are successfully treated by dentists from the STOMA clinic chain. We are ready to help even in difficult cases. You can make an appointment at the specified number or through a special form on the website.

Tooth abscess, diagnosis and treatment | Dentistry Dental Art

Tooth abscess is a purulent inflammation in the area of ​​the tooth root.

The inflammatory process in an abscess is of an infectious origin. Pathogenic microflora penetrates into the dental pulp – the neurovascular bundle, causing its inflammation, which is accompanied by acute pain.

If untreated, the inflammatory process can spread to the bone tissue and cause serious complications, including infection of the brain, mediastinum, general blood poisoning (sepsis). In severe cases, a life-threatening situation may arise.

In recent decades, the incidence of dental abscess has increased, and cases of severe complications have also become more frequent.

This is important

Dental abscesses are the most common type of acute infectious diseases in dentistry. According to statistics, they make up 80 – 85% of all cases. People of young and middle age (up to 60 years) are more susceptible to them. In old age, purulent inflammation rarely occurs. In 72% of cases, the abscess affects the lower teeth, in 28% of cases – the upper ones. These are usually molars or premolars.

Symptoms

Acute abscess is manifested by intense, throbbing toothache, which is aggravated by eating, brushing teeth, pressing on the tooth.

Other symptoms:

• sore gums when pressed,
• bad breath,
• bitter taste in the mouth,
• gum swelling,
• formation of a red or pale bump on the gum,
• festering sores on gums,
• distribution of edema to the soft tissues of the face, asymmetry of the face,
• enlargement of regional lymph nodes (submandibular, cervical),
• fever,
• headache.

The inflammatory process may be accompanied by signs of intoxication of the body – weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, depression, sleep disturbance.

Causes

Infection can occur from within the tooth, through the pulp, or from outside, from the surrounding tissues.

Usually an abscess develops as a complication:

• caries,
• pulpitis,
• periodontitis,
• gingivitis,
• dental cyst,
• granulomas

Another possible route of infection is cracked, chipped enamel.

This is important

Especially often complicated tooth abscesses occur in people with reduced immunity, chronic somatic diseases (diabetes mellitus, etc.).

An external source of infection can be inflammatory foci with sinusitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis.

In most cases, the root cause of the problem is insufficient oral hygiene, improper brushing of teeth. As a result, plaque accumulates on the surface of the enamel, in which bacteria actively multiply. Over time, the soft plaque hardens, forming a plaque. At this stage, the activity of bacteria increases. Dental plaque increases, penetrates under the gum, spreads along the neck of the tooth.

With the formation of subgingival deposits, the edge of the gum moves away from the tooth neck. A periodontal pocket is formed, in which food debris accumulates, bacteria actively multiply, causing inflammation – periodontitis. Further, the inflammatory process can go to the tooth root.

In the process of vital activity, bacteria release toxins that provoke inflammation of soft tissues, and acids that destroy enamel. The infection penetrates deeper into the tooth. First, it causes caries, and then pulpitis. Through the root canal, the infection penetrates to the top of the tooth – a focus of inflammation is formed here, which can quickly turn into a purulent form.

Species

Tooth abscess can be acute, subacute, chronic.

According to the place of localization, gingival, periapical and periodontal types of the disease are distinguished.

A periapical abscess develops inside the root of a tooth in its apical (apical) region.

Periodontal abscess develops in periodontal tissues – between the root and the alveolus of the tooth. Over time, a fistula forms in the area of ​​chronic inflammation, through which the purulent contents come out.

With a gingival abscess, the gums become inflamed.

According to the severity of the course, mild, moderate and severe forms of the disease are distinguished. With a mild form, the inflammatory process covers one anatomical region, with a moderate form – two or more, with a severe one, it is widespread.

If an abscess is left untreated, the infection can spread throughout the body, resulting in sepsis. This affects the lungs, kidneys, liver, develops multiple organ failure and septic shock, which leads to death. Another possible complication is the spread of the inflammatory process to the brain with the development of meningitis, brain abscess. If there is a blood vessel near the source of infection, inflammation of its wall, the development of thrombophlebitis, and the formation of a blood clot are possible. From the inflammatory focus, the infection can enter the mediastinum with blood and cause a dangerous disease – mediastinitis, which is a life-threatening condition

Bendeva Marina Leonidovna

Therapist, endodontist, periodontist, surgeon, implantologist

Diagnostics

At the initial appointment, the doctor asks the patient about the nature of the complaints, examines the oral cavity, paying attention to the presence of caries, pulpitis, periodontal pockets, symptoms of soft tissue inflammation, checks the mobility of the diseased tooth, the strength of dental tissues.

After examining the oral cavity, an x-ray is performed, which shows the localization and prevalence of the inflammatory process.

Based on the data obtained, the doctor draws up a treatment plan.

Treatment at Dental Art

The Dental Art clinic treats all types of dental abscess using the most modern equipment, the best materials, and anesthesia. Our specialists have extensive experience in the treatment of this disease and high qualifications, which is the key to optimal treatment results.

The treatment plan is drawn up individually, depending on the location, the cause of inflammation.

In the case of a periapical abscess, the root canals are cleared of infected, inflamed pulp and expanded. After that, an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic drug is laid in them. After the elimination of the inflammatory process, the dental canals are sealed.

In a periodontal abscess, the gap between the alveolus and the dental cementum is drained. The purulent focus is opened, the infection is eliminated, the inflammatory process is stopped by drugs. Antibiotics may also be prescribed.