A dental abscess is a severe oral health issue requiring immediate dental care. Dental abscesses may begin with an infection in the tooth or gums. Periapical and periodontal abscesses are the two types, and these terms indicate the abscess’s location. Periapical abscesses aren’t visible because they develop at the tip of your tooth’s root inside your tooth. Periodontal abscesses refer to pus pockets in your gums beside your tooth’s root.
A dental abscess is a pocket that develops at the bottom of a tooth’s roots or beside the roots. The pocket allows pus to build up, causing severe symptoms that require expert dental care.
Reasons you may suffer from a dental abscess include the following:
Some people think that a cavity and tooth decay are the same, but they refer to different issues. Cavities are holes inside a tooth caused by tooth decay. Tooth decay weakens tooth enamel and allows bacteria inside your tooth.
It’s possible that fillings, dental implants, and root canal treatments can cause infections and dental abscesses.
Impacted teeth are teeth trapped inside your gums. Another tooth may prevent these teeth from erupting, causing severe oral health issues. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause infections, resulting in dental abscesses.
There are several symptoms of a tooth abscess, including the following:
A periodontal abscess protrudes from your gums. It’s small, red, and resembles a ball or pimple on your gums. Periapical abscesses occur in the tooth, at the tip of the gums, and cannot be seen. Your dentist needs to X-ray the tooth during an examination to confirm you have a periapical abscess.
You must seek professional dental treatment for a dental abscess. The abscess will not heal without appropriate dental care.
Your dentist will perform an exam and use X-rays to get a complete look at what’s happening to your teeth and gums. This is crucial because if impacted wisdom teeth cause the abscess, you may need to have them removed as part of your treatment. Once your dentist confirms the type of abscess you have and the cause, they can develop a suitable treatment plan.
Treating dental abscesses involves incising the abscess. This gives your dentist access to the pocket, allowing them to drain the pus.
You may need root canal treatment if the pulp and nerves inside your teeth are infected. Your dentist will give you anesthesia and remove the infected pulp and nerves.
In some cases, it isn’t possible to save the infected tooth, so tooth extraction may be necessary.
Prescription antibiotics may also be necessary if the infection has spread to the surrounding tissue. Antibiotics can kill the infection and prevent further health issues from developing.
Although URBN Dental’s Houston dental offices keep emergency appointment slots open daily and we have a 24-hour emergency dentist on call, there are many reasons you may not be able to come in for immediate treatment. Perhaps you need to make arrangements for someone to care for your children or an elderly parent. Maybe a weather emergency has resulted in a shelter-in-place order. Whatever the reason for the delay, the following are ways to manage your pain until you can see a dentist:
Preventing tooth decay and maintaining effective oral hygiene habits can help prevent dental abscesses. Dentists recommend using toothpaste with fluoride when you brush your teeth. In addition to brushing twice and flossing daily, you can use a mouth rinse with fluoride to help maintain your oral health.
Avoid foods and beverages that weaken tooth enamel. This includes acidic and sugary foods and drinks.
URBN Dental understands it’s impossible to plan for dental emergencies, but an emergency can worsen and impact your life and health without immediate dental care. URBN Dental accepts PPO insurance plans and offers payment plans for those without insurance. URBN Dental also has a licensed dentist you can reach by phone around the clock, ensuring you get expert dental advice when you need it. Our offices keep appointment slots open so you can get the urgent care you need without delay.
URBN Dental has several offices throughout Houston, making finding a Houston dentist near you easy. We have offices in the following Houston locations:
URBN Dental also has an office in Katy and will soon open an office in Meyerland.
URBN Dental is open six days a week. You can schedule appointments during the following office hours:
We also have an on-call dentist available 24/7 to address your dental emergency.
A dental abscess is a severe oral health issue requiring prompt treatment. You should visit a URBN Dental office immediately. If it’s outside office hours, you can call our emergency dentist in Houston 24 hours a day to receive prompt care.
Both periodontal and periapical abscesses cause severe symptoms, including difficulty or pain when chewing food, difficulty breathing, and facial swelling. Refer to the list of symptoms of a tooth abscess on this page and note your symptoms.
A periodontal abscess is visible, so you can be sure you have this type of abscess without contacting a dentist. However, periapical abscesses are not visible, and you must seek professional dental care to confirm you have an abscess inside your tooth. A licensed dentist has the expertise and equipment needed to diagnose a dental abscess and provide effective treatment.
Dental abscess. (2022).
Periodontal Abscess: Care Instructions. (2023).
Slide show: Root canal treatment. (2021).
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