What is a Tooth Abscess?

A tooth abscess is characterized by a collection of pus that develops as a result of a bacterial infection at the center of a tooth or the area between the gums and tooth. This is a common dental condition that is extremely painful. The collection of pus is made up of dead tissue, live and dead bacteria and white blood cells. If it accumulates in a small area and there is no place for the pus to drain, an abscess in formed.

The more pus accumulates, the more pressure is increased and as a result abscessed tooth is excruciatingly painful. If the infection spreads from the oral cavity and causes swelling in the face and lower jaw, the swollen area can rupture and the pus will drain out of the mouth.

Although the pain may now stop, the infection is still there and treatment is required. If left untreated a tooth abscess can cause serious health complications such as tooth loss, sepsis, infection to the jaw bone and facial soft tissue and mediastinitis. Infection may also spread to other areas of the body and result in pneumonia, a brain abscess or endocarditis.

TEETH Care Centre Dental Hospital, Ahmedabad

Gingivitis

there are many forms of gingival and periodontal diseases, the most common type are gingivitis and adult periodontitis. Gingivitis is the earliest stage and affects only the gum tissue. At this stage, the disease is still reversible. If not treated, however, it may lead to a more sever condition. Periodontitis is the more advanced stage of periodontal diseases. The gums, bone and other structures that support the teeth become damaged. Teeth can become loose and fall out-or may have to be removed. At this stage, the disease may require more complex treatment to prevent tooth loss.

- People who smoke or chew tobacco are more likely to have gum diseases, and to have them more severely, than those who do not use any form of tobacco.

- Poorly fitting bridges, malocclusion (badly aligned teeth) or defective restorations (fillings), can all contribute to plaque retentions and increase the risk of developing gum diseases.

- Habits which place excessive biting forces on your teeth, such as clenching or grinding, may also accelerate the rate at which supporting bone is lost.

- Poor diet may cause gum diseases to progress more rapidly or increase the severity of the condition, according to some researchers. There is also some evidence than an unbalanced diet makes mouth tissues less resistant to infection.

- Pregnancy or use of oral contraceptives increases hormone levels which can cause gum tissues to react more sensitively to the toxins in plaque and accelerate growth or certain bacteria. The gums are more likely to become red, tender, and swollen and to bleed easily.

- Systemic diseases, such as AIDS or diabetes, can lower the tissues’ resistance to infection, making gum diseases more sever.

TEETH Care Centre Dental Hospital, Ahmedabad

Why do I need X-rays?

Dental X-rays are extremely valuable for helping to detect oral diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissues. An X-ray exam may reveal small cavities that can't be seen by a visual exam, infections in the bone, abscesses, cysts, developmental abnormalities, such as extra or impacted teeth and some types of tumors. Just because such diseases, including early tooth decay, can't be seen by a visual exam does not mean that treatment isn't required.

Is it safe to have dental X-rays?
Yes. Numerous precautions and advances in X-ray equipment help protect patients from receiving unnecessary radiation. The amount of radiation received from a dental exam is extremely small compared to other naturally occurring sources of radiation, including minerals in the soil, radon, and cosmic radiation from outer space. A full-mouth series of films, using state-of-the-art technology, will deliver an effective dose that is equivalent to about 19 days of exposure to naturally occurring environmental radiation.

TCC is equipped with high quality x-ray equipments.

TEETH Care Centre Dental Hospital, Ahmedabad