Some abscessed teeth occur without causing the slightest pain or swelling. X-rays detect these during a dental examination. However, other abscessed teeth cause severe pain that can interfere with work, school and routine daily activities. In either case, infection from an abscessed tooth can spread and become a life-threatening situation.
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment saves most abscessed teeth from extraction, according to the American Association of Endodontists. This procedure effectively removes the infected dental pulp that causes an abscessed tooth. Endodontic, or root canal, instruments placed through a small opening made in the tooth clean the infected pulp from inside the tooth. These instruments create a space within the roots that irrigating solutions, such as sodium hypochlorite, disinfect. After proper cleaning and shaping of this space, a biocompatible root canal filling material fills the space and seals the root from further infection. If the abscess has caused swelling in the gum, it may require an incision to drain the pus and relieve the pressure. According to the American Association of Endodontists, there is little discomfort with this procedure. Over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen usually manage the pain from the toothache and procedure, according to the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. Occasionally, severe pain and infection require narcotic analgesics and antibiotics.
Tooth Extraction
Some teeth cannot be saved with a root canal treatment and require extraction, according to the Hartford Hospital. This can result from extensive tooth decay that leaves too little tooth structure upon which to place a dental filling or crown. A fractured root or excessive bone loss around the tooth may also necessitate tooth removal. A dental implant or bridge can replace most extracted abscessed teeth.
Deep Cleaning
A gum abscess can form outside the tooth and cause a toothache. It begins when plaque accumulates and causes gingivitis or inflammation in the gums. If gingivitis is not treated, it leads to an infection or abscess in the gums. Most of these conditions resolve with deep cleaning of the pocket between the gum and tooth, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. If the gum abscess has caused extensive damage to the bone and gums, periodontal surgery becomes possible. Other periodontal procedures, such as the local application of antibiotics, can help clear the infection.
Home Remedies
Warm saline rinses and over-the-counter pain medications can help soothe the discomfort and swelling that accompany a dental abscess, according to Johns Hopkins Hospital. Although these may help the pain resolve, the source of the infection remains and requires definitive treatment. Extraction and root canal treatment are the only alternatives, according to the American Association of Endodontists.
