A dental abscess can be extraordinarily painful. It may have been something you noticed lurking in the background with a few minor toothaches, or it could seem to come on all of the sudden. You may get a massive swelling that shows through your cheek or jaw or it may only have a very localized swelling.
However a dental abscess presents, you need to have it checked out within the first 24 hours in order to be safe. You should call an emergency dentist like Lavo Dental in Northridge, CA. They can perform filling replacements, root canals, and other dental procedures that can help save your teeth and stop the original cause of your abscessed tooth.
![Photo of young girl holding her cheek wondering if she is dealing with a dental abscess.](https://lavodental.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/tooth-abscess-1-1-1024x576.jpg)
What is a Dental Abscess?
A dental abscess is an infection of your teeth or the areas surrounding them. A single tooth may become infected, but there can also be infection under the gum line at the root and even in the bone supporting the teeth.
What Causes a Dental Abscess?
According to the Mayo Clinic, most are caused by untreated dental cavities and bacteria. This is why it is so important to make sure that you take proper care of your teeth which includes brushing and flossing regularly as well as seeing your local dentists for regular dental checkups.
Signs of an Abscessed Tooth
You may be wondering what exactly the difference is between a toothache and an dental abscess since both may affect a single tooth and both can cause unbearable pain. Some symptoms you may notice that a toothache is actually an abscessed tooth are:
- Pus in or around the tooth
- Swelling and redness around the area
- Blood in or around the tooth
- Fever or chills accompanying a toothache
- Severe throbbing pain
- Foul odor in your mouth
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Do I See a Doctor or Dentist for an Abscess?
An abscess is a type of infection and can be dangerous if left untreated. You need to seek professional help from a dentist immediately if you think that you have a dental abscess. A dentist will be able to give you antibiotics to treat the infection as well as perform needed dental work such as a root canal or tooth extraction to keep the dental abscess from recurring.
If you can not get to a dentist, your doctor or local hospital emergency department will be able to prescribe antibiotics and then will refer you to your dentist.
A dental abscess is an emergency and should be treated right away to keep the infection from spreading or doing further damage. If you have a dental abscess and it is after hours or on a weekend, call an emergency dentist. You should not risk waiting for several days for a regularly scheduled dental appointment if you are concerned about any type of infection.
Visit a Local Dentist in Northridge, CA
If you think you have a dental abscess or are experiencing other dental issues, Lavo Dental schedules both regular and emergency appointments and dental services to get your mouth healthy again. To schedule an appointment call your Lavo dentist at (818) 345-5556 today.