Treatment Options for a Tooth Abscess

Pus is a sign that you’ve got a serious infection. If you scraped your knee and developed pus in the area, for example, you’d likely give the injury extra attention. 

Pus doesn’t always develop where you can spot it, though. In the case of a tooth abscess, you can end up with pus under your gums or at the tip of your tooth root. This causes unwelcome symptoms and can destroy your tooth. 

Worse yet, if you leave the abscess unchecked, it can rupture and spread the infection to other parts of your body. A tooth abscess can even lead to sepsis. 

It’s critical that you get treatment if you have a tooth abscess. Fortunately, Gemini Master-Patel, DMD, offers the care you need at our Riverside Dental offices in Yonkers and Thornwood, New York. With her expertise in laser dentistry, she can address your abscess and help minimize its impact. 

But how do you know if you have a tooth abscess that requires treatment? 

Signs of a tooth abscess

The main sign of an abscess is pain. It might feel throbbing, aching, or sharp and shooting. Your tooth might be so sensitive that even lightly tapping on it dramatically increases your pain level, and eating on that side of your mouth may become unbearable. That pain can also spread down your neck, up to your ear, or across your jawbone. 

Other symptoms of a tooth abscess include:

• Bad breath
• Gum bleeding and swelling
• A bitter taste in your mouth
• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes

If you can see an open sore on your gums, it’s very likely an abscess. Make an appointment with Dr. Master-Patel as soon as possible. 

Treating a tooth abscess

Properly treating your abscess means draining the pus that’s developed there. Dr. Patel uses a soft tissue laser to open up the area and allow the abscess to drain. This offers two perks over traditional abscess opening and draining.

First, the laser helps kill any bacteria it contacts, setting your body up for success to fight the infection. Second, the laser offers Dr. Master-Patel more precision to keep your incision as small as possible. 

Once Dr. Master-Patel has drained the abscess, your next steps depend on how far the infection has spread. 

In some cases, she can save your tooth with a root canal. In others, extracting the tooth is necessary to restore your oral health. If you do need your tooth pulled, Dr. Master-Patel offers dental implants to give you a natural-looking and feeling replacement tooth that can last your lifetime. 

Ultimately, a tooth abscess is treatable. Time is of the essence, though. To give yourself the best chance of saving your tooth, act fast. 

If you think you might have a tooth abscess, don’t wait to reach out to Dr. Master-Patel  and associates at Riverside Dental for the care you need. To get treatment for your abscess, call our office most convenient to you or book your appointment online today.