An infection in a tooth or the surrounding gum can result in severe pain and swelling. It is critical to make an accurate diagnosis in order to correctly treat the problem. Not all gum infections include an abscessed tooth and can be resolved with more conservative measures.
Causes
A tooth abscesses as the result of an infected or necrotic dental pulp. Tooth decay, repeated dental procedures, cracks and trauma cause severe inflammation that leads to this condition, according to the American Dental Association. Each of these problems allows bacteria to enter the pulp and cause an infection inside the tooth. When the infected pulp remains inside the tooth it causes pus formation at the tip of the root in the surrounding bone known as an abscessed tooth.
Eventually this spreads to include infection in the gum tissue around the tooth. However, a gum infection can also occur without a diseased dental pulp. The cause is periodontal disease that results in a pocket forming between the tooth and gum. Smoking, stress, genetics, diabetes and other factors predispose someone to periodontal disease, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Plaque that accumulates around a tooth is the main cause of periodontal pockets and gum disease.
Symptoms
The symptoms of an abscessed tooth include swelling, a spontaneous and throbbing toothache, pain when chewing, tenderness and redness of the gum, bad taste and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, according to the Hartford Hospital. Fever and swelling that spreads to other areas of the face and neck may accompany a severely abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth may also not demonstrate any symptoms at all. Dental X-rays taken during routine dental checkups detect these. The symptoms of a gum abscess include tenderness and swelling in the gum, bad taste and possibly a sore tooth.
Diagnosis
In order to diagnose an abscessed tooth and gum infection, a dentist will usually tap lightly on the tooth with a dental instrument, test the tooth with hot and cold, place the tooth under biting pressure and palpate the soft tissues around the tooth, according to the Hartford Hospital. Probing between the gum and tooth reveals whether or not a periodontal pocket exists. Dental X-rays reveal changes in the bone, ligament and root surface that provide helpful information in making an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment
Treating an abscessed tooth must include removing the infected dental pulp. Oral medications may bring some temporary relief of the pain and swelling. Only a root canal treatment or tooth extraction results in resolution of the infection, according to the American Association of Endodontists. A gum infection without an abscessed tooth usually heals by cleaning the periodontal pocket and root surface, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Occasionally, periodontal surgery is necessary.
Prevention/Solution
Regular dental checkups can help prevent the development of an abscessed tooth. Tooth decay removed early avoids severe pulp inflammation that leads to infection. Proper tooth-brushing, flossing and professional dental cleanings keep periodontal disease from causing pockets that produce gum infections.
