Abscesses

When it comes to dental and oral problems, the list of possible ailments that all Perth dentists has to deal with is longer than this page, but as you probably know, some issues are more common than others. That list includes cavities, gum disease, tartar, gingivitis and the one which we are going to discuss here, abscesses.

Abscesses, or as you may hear some dentists to them, tooth abscesses, are a condition that can be extremely painful. They are bacterial infections that can create pus which can build up within teeth, gums, and the jawbone. One of the more concerning traits of these dental abscesses is that the infection can spread to other parts of the body, which in the worst cases can require treatment from a doctor, rather than a dentist.

Thankfully, those instances are rare, and the abscess will be restricted to the mouth. Not that this is a particularly pleasant experience, but one which has fewer repercussions than infection spreading to the rest of your body.

So, now that we have defined what a dental abscess is, let us look at the symptoms you might experience, what causes them, and most importantly, how you can prevent them.

(more…)