The Hidden Dangers of Pulling an Abscessed Tooth

The Hidden Dangers of Pulling an Abscessed Tooth

Toothache is arguably one of the worst kinds of pain you may physically experience, especially if it is toothache from an abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth occurs due to an infection. If left untreated, this may rapidly spread to affect the adjacent teeth, jawbone, face, and even the neck. Some infections may be so severe that patients experience symptoms such as severe pain, swelling of the face, difficulty in breathing, and fever.

Though tempting, getting your abscessed tooth pulled out can be a bit tricky. It is important to seek professional help as soon as possible to determine how to safely address the issue. Ideally, severe toothache should be looked at by an emergency dentist as soon as possible.

At Sierra Dental, our emergency dentists help determine the best way to treat a toothache and an abscessed tooth. With her urgent care, she provides suitable treatment to resolve pain and get you on the right track to better oral health.

If you have an abscessed tooth and do not know what to do, this short read can help you identify the risks and complications, treatment options, and how to prevent it.

What is an Abscessed Tooth?

An abscessed tooth is a severe dental infection that typically occurs at the root of the tooth or its surrounding areas due to a long-standing, severe decay or cavity, gum disease, or a dental injury. Eventually, this infection will lead to the build-up of bacteria known as an abscess.

An abscessed tooth may affect just the concerned tooth and gums. But if the infection is left untreated, it may spread to affect the areas of the head and neck.

Signs and Symptoms of an Abscessed Tooth

Some abscessed teeth, especially in their early stages, may not show any signs and symptoms. But if there are any, some of these may include:

• Pain or discomfort with hot and cold foods or drinks
• Pain when chewing or biting
• Severe, constant, and throbbing toothache that may spread to the ear and neck
• Persistent bad breath and bad taste in the mouth
• Pimple on the gums (gum boil)

For more severe symptoms due to widespread infection, patients may feel feverish, have swollen lymph nodes and face, and even difficulty in breathing.

During routine check-up, our dentists can spot an abscessed tooth with common signs such as a pimple or pus on the gums. It may also show up on an X-ray as a black spot around the tooth.

Risks and Complications of Pulling an Abscessed Tooth

Despite the symptoms of an abscessed tooth and how tempting it is to get it pulled out, this condition requires an experienced dental or medical professional. We recommend contacting our office if the symptoms become too severe. This is to prevent the risks that may come with pulling it out on your own or without the proper help.

Severe pain, bleeding may be experienced

Without proper care, the extraction of an abscessed tooth can lead to severe pain and uncontrolled bleeding. It is essential to assess the surrounding structures, including the nerves and blood vessels, to determine their proximity from the tooth and the abscess.

The infection may spread, leading to severe complications

Depending on how widespread the infection is, complications such as septicemia may occur if the extraction is improperly handled. This occurs if bacteria enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. Septicemia can be life-threatening if not promptly managed.

Some parts of the abscess may be left behind

Large infections need to be removed along with the tooth. This will require your dentist or oral surgeon to remove the surrounding infected tissue to prevent leaving any parts of the abscess that may cause persistent infection and future problems down the line.

To safely remove large abscesses, our in-house oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Choo-Soon Kua, DDS, FRCDC can come in to help. He specializes in complex dental and surgical cases, such as an abscessed tooth, to ensure that all infected areas are safely removed.

The Importance of Seeking Professional Help for Abscessed Teeth

With the possible risks and complexity of properly treating an abscessed tooth, it is always best to get professional help. At Sierra Dental, we have a team of experienced dentists to properly diagnose, treat, and manage an abscessed tooth to relieve you of any symptoms and prevent reinfection.

Delaying professional treatment can cause serious problems

If you are experiencing any signs of an abscessed tooth, schedule a consultation with us as soon as possible. This will prevent further infection that may require extensive treatment. Upon comprehensive assessment, our team will refer you to either our specialist endodontist for root canal therapy or to our experienced surgeon for tooth extraction.

Knowing how to treat an abscessed tooth

Not all abscessed teeth are treated the same. If you have a small abscess, a root canal or tooth extraction may be recommended. But, for larger infections that have affected the face and neck, antibiotics will be prescribed to alleviate the symptoms before tooth extraction is done. It is always best to have a specialist look into your case for a more specific treatment plan.

Sierra Dental proudly offers the care of multiple in-house specialists, including an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, endodontist, and periodontist. All of which can help you understand the best way to treat your abscessed tooth.

With general and specialist dentistry available in our office, we make it easier for more patients to receive the dental care they deserve.

Prevention is always better than cure

Once the issue is resolved, our goal is to help you take the steps to prevent future abscesses. This includes proper oral hygiene to reduce bacteria that may develop into an abscessed tooth and regular dental visits.

At Sierra Dental, we recommend routine dental check-ups and cleanings every six months so we can monitor your oral health and address dental problems early.

Treatment Options: Root Canal vs Extraction

At Sierra Dental, treatment of an abscessed tooth can be either root canal or a tooth extraction and tooth replacement. But how do you know which should be done in your case? Here’s a quick overview of both:

Root canal is done for smaller abscesses

The goal of root canal treatment is to remove existing infection by removing diseased tooth parts and cleaning the inside of the tooth. Not only will this procedure save your tooth, but it can also prevent future reinfection. After a root canal, the tooth will receive a dental crown so it can look and function as new.

Our in-house endodontists, provide long-term solutions for an abscessed tooth with effective root canal therapy. With their advanced training in endodontics, you can continue enjoying your natural tooth and smile.

Tooth extraction is the last resort for an abscessed tooth

As much as possible, we do our best to save the tooth. But sometimes, keeping the tooth will do you more harm than good. In such cases, a tooth extraction may be recommended. This is for a large abscess or if the tooth has suffered severe decay to a point where it can no longer be restored with a crown.

If necessary, we may refer you to our oral and maxillofacial specialist, Dr. Choo-Soon Kua, DDS, FRCDC, especially for more widespread symptoms and a larger abscess.

Conclusion

An abscessed tooth is definitely problematic on its own, but pulling it out without proper care and help will cause more serious concerns.

If you are unsure if you have an abscessed tooth or if you are experiencing the signs and symptoms of it, call us at Sierra Dental at (403) 297-9600 to set your appointment. With comprehensive evaluation and efficient treatment planning, we will help you get your healthy and beautiful smile back!