When tooth decay occurs and the protective layer of enamel is removed, the sensitive inner part of the tooth containing the dental nerve and root is exposed to the possibility of infection. If infection does take hold in the tooth, the body will naturally respond by producing an excess of white blood cells to fight it. These cells mix with the infected material to produce a substance called pus (also found in blisters and spots), which builds up in an abscess around the root of the tooth.
Tooth abscesses can be extremely painful and sensitive to hot and cold food. They can make your life pretty miserable and prevent even the most simple of everyday activities such as drinking a cup of tea or eating an ice cream. Tooth abscess are also very dangerous because they can rupture, releasing the infected material into other areas of the mouth and even into the bloodstream, which has links with heart disease and other associated health problems.
There are three main ways to treat an abscessed tooth. The first and most simple is a course of antibiotics from your City of Leeds dentist. This will hopefully fight off the infection and remove the abscess, allowing the tooth and bone to recover on their own in time. Some additional protective work may then be required to protect the tooth from further infection.
If antibiotics are unsuccessful or the infection is already too far gone, the dentist may need to drill down into the tooth and physically remove the infection. This is called a root canal treatment and is often much feared, although probably without due cause as it actually brings an end to the pain of an infection.
Lastly, and the worst-case scenario is that the tooth itself is so badly damaged that it needs to be completely removed. This is far from ideal and will require extensive treatment and then possibly a dental replacement such as an implant to restore the appearance of the teeth.
