Do you have severe tooth pain? Are your teeth sensitive to cold foods? You may have an abscessed tooth. Typically, a tooth abscess is a pocket of pus created by a dental infection or injury. The abscess can occur around or inside the tooth. Many patients with a tooth abscess need a root canal or extraction to save the tooth or protect surrounding natural teeth. Here we will review what to look for when it comes to symptoms of tooth infections and how we can treat an abscessed tooth in Lilburn, GA.
Signs of a Tooth Abscess
Common symptoms of decay and a tooth abscess include:
- Bad breath
- Fever
- Tooth sensitivity to pressure and temperature
- Intense toothaches
- Redness inside the mouth
- Swollen jaw or face
- Difficulty and pain biting and chewing
Please contact our dental office if you notice a change in the comfort of your smile. A tooth abscess can quickly develop and lead to problems like gum recession and even tooth loss.
Treating an Abscessed Tooth in Lilburn, GA
Root canal treatment is one of the best options for patients with abscessed teeth. A root canal removes an infection from a tooth. Typically, root canals remove infected dental pulp. The dental pulp is located within the tooth chamber and is made of the cells, blood vessels, and nerves that keep the tooth alive. After removing the infection and cleaning the tooth, a dental filling can seal the tooth. Fillings can be made of metal, porcelain, or composite materials. Metal dental fillings provide strength, particularly to the molars in the back of the mouth. Porcelain and white or composite dental fillings blend in with the appearance of the smile.
If we cannot save a severely infected or injured tooth, we will recommend a tooth extraction. Dental extractions remove teeth and prevent the spread of infection. Then, we will recommend dental implants. Implants are dental restorations that restore teeth at the root. Dental implants are titanium metal posts that fuse with the jaw bone tissue over time. Once implants heal, they offer a stable replacement for one or more lost teeth. We cover a single implant with a durable dental crown, which matches the color and shape of natural teeth.
Do you think you may have a tooth abscess? Call Dr. Harry McCool for treatment today at [new_patient_phone_span]. You can also request a dental appointment with us on our website.