Two types of infection are of concern to dentists. One is periapical abscess, the most frequently occurring kind. This one begins in the dental pulp. An abscess that starts in bones or other tissues that surround teeth is called periodontal abscess. Fluid typically collects in this soft gum tissue making the area extremely painful.
Most of these dental abscesses are caused when the formation of a cavity is not interrupted and continues to sink ever deeper into the tooth structures. Finally, the pulp tissue inside the root is involved and becomes infected. This pulp tissue dies and worsens the infection.
Other possible causes of dental abscesses are cracks in teeth or even periodontal disease. Regardless of the causes the extent of the dental abscess has the possibility of becoming very widespread. Bone and soft tissue can become involved. A condition known as septicemia or blood infection may result from a dental abscess that spreads to the contiguous blood vessels.
Septicemia as well as Ludwig's Angina which can result in an airway constriction may result, albeit infrequently, from dental abscesses. Both of these are very serious outcomes and require emergency medical care.
Two traditional treatments exist for dental abscesses before more serious problems result. The first is extraction of the tooth. The second is a root canal which is the combination of a pulp removal (pulpectomy) followed by root filling. This filling material is not of the amalgam type used in surface teeth cavities. Rather a plastic called isoprene is melted and pored into the treated root. The whole process requires at least two office visits with a specialist called an endodontist. The second appointment usually is needed to place a cap on the treated tooth.
All-in-all any treatment for abscess is unpleasant at best. Pain relievers and antibiotics may help some before treatment but the extraction or root canal must still be scheduled. Only a very foolish person would neglect this needed treatment. Time will not heal this wound. The exact opposite is likely! The abscess can spread and cause other more serious problems.
Cost is a considerable issue in regards to treating a dental abscess with a root canal. This procedure can cost as much as $1500 in the USA. Many American dental insurers will only pay up to 50% of this cost. The remainder is a serious drain on most budgets. If more than one tooth is abscessed the cost of treatment becomes very high, as does the level of physical pain.
By contrast most dentists can treat dental abscesses with extraction for relatively low cost. There are many other considerations that must be taken into account before electing between these two treatments. One is that a root canal may not solve the problem for very long. The tooth can still decay further and may eventually still need to be extracted.
Either way this or other issues may be discussed in an office appointment with a New York dentist.
