What is tooth abscess?

4 May 2021

It is a condition caused by the presence of pus accumulated in the oral structures due to an infection caused by bacteria, mainly due to the presence of dental cavities that did not receive timely treatment, injuries, or failed dental repairs, causing inflammation of the tooth root, usually at the beginning thereof. There are two types of tooth abscesses depending on where the infection begins:

Periapical: seriously injures the dental root.
Periodontal: pus accumulates in the gum, next to the root.

Signs and symptoms Tooth abscess

The most frequent symptoms consist of:

Constant and intense pain in the affected tooth, which can be transmitted to the ear, neck, and jaw.
High fever.
Swollen lymph nodes.
Swollen face.
Hypersensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks.
Inflammation of the gums.
Bad breath.
Trouble swallowing or breathing.
Abrupt discharge of pus in case the abscess bursts.
Increased pain when biting or chewing

The abscess fluid must be completely drained, otherwise, the infection can spread to the neck and head, with the risk of turning into septicemia, a generalized body infection with fatal consequences. If your immune system is weak, you should attend to the tooth abscess immediately, since the chances of it turning into septicemia increase considerably.

Diagnosis and treatment Tooth abscess

After reviewing your symptoms and medical history, your dentist will examine your teeth and gums for damage and may gently tap on your teeth to see how sensitive they are. They will also take x-rays of the affected tooth and in some cases may order a computed tomography, especially if they suspect that the infection has spread to other areas. The treatment to follow consists of eradicating the infection through:

Antibiotics.
Abscess drainage.
Root canals.
Exodontia.

Prevention:

You can avoid dental abscesses:

Brushing your teeth after every meal.
Flossing daily.
Using a fluoride mouthwash to add an extra layer of protection against tooth decay.
Seeing your dentist regularly.
Replacing your toothbrush every two months.
Consuming foods reduced in sugars or without them.
Quit smoking.

ABC Medical Center invites you to take care of your dental health with our professional team of highly qualified and ethical dentists supported by cutting-edge technology, which guarantees high quality and safe service in our comfortable and functional facilities with all the state-of-the-art dental advances, achieving rapid attention with a high degree of precision and efficiency.

Related centers and departments Tooth abscess

Dental Health
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

mayoclinic.org
medlineplus.gov
dentalcare.com.mx
topdoctors.es
mouthhealthy.org
medigraphic.com
Farias HS, Coelho CSM, Costa CPA, et al. Absceso dentoalveolar crónico en paciente pediátrico con drenaje raro. Rev Cubana Estomatol. 2019;56(4):1-13.
Soto-Sainz JE, Alarcón-Romero P, Gastélum-Rosales G, et al. Presencia de bacterias del complejo rojo y Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans en dientes primarios necróticos con absceso periapical en niños de Sinaloa, México. Rev Biomed. 2020;31(2):76-83.
Hernández MAB; Sueiro SIA; Hernández MZL. Complicaciones derivadas del absceso dentoalveolar agudo en pacientes pertenecientes al área VII, Cienfuegos (2013). Rev Cubana Estomatol. 2015;52(4):9-15.
Rojas HA, Alonso DS, González GM, et al. Absceso alveolar agudo en pacientes mayores de 19 años. Municipio Unión de Reyes. Rev Méd Electrón. 2017;39(3):451-459.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the Saludora Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is tooth abscess?

Signs and symptoms Tooth abscess

Diagnosis and treatment Tooth abscess

Related centers and departments Tooth abscess

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Tooth abscess