Toothache + Facial Swelling = A Potentially Serious Dental Emergency

A toothache should be investigated by a dentist. When the pain is minor, you might take a painkiller and hope for the best. While your discomfort might subside, its cause is still a mystery, and that mystery should be solved by your dentist so that you can receive the appropriate treatment. When the pain is extreme and accompanied by a condition known as cellulitis, emergency dentistry will be needed.

Dental Abscess

Acute toothache can be caused by a dental abscess. This is a serious bacterial infection, where pus has accumulated in and/or around the tooth's pulp (the nerve inside the tooth's internal pulp chamber). When the infection is confined to the interior of the tooth, it's known as a periapical abscess. When the infection has developed in the tissues surrounding the tooth, it's known as a periodontal abscess. In this context, cellulitis is when the infection has spread and has caused an inflammation of your oral and facial tissues.

Immediate Treatment

A dental abscess accompanied by cellulitis is extremely serious and requires immediate treatment. The onset of pain and swelling can be rapid, and it's a sign that the infection is overwhelming your immune system's ability to combat it. Ibuprofen or any other type of non-prescription anti-inflammatory medication will not have much effect, even when combined with a cold compress in an attempt to control the swelling. You need emergency dental treatment without delay.

What a Dentist Will Do

The dentist will manage your pain, and they may also drain the abscess. This will immediately relieve the localised pressure, which will have a notable effect on your discomfort, offering rapid relief. You will also need antibiotics to counteract the infection. Once this infection has been managed and the swelling has subsided, the next step of treatment will begin (which will take place during a follow-up appointment). 

The Underlying Cause

Most dental abscesses form when bacteria has entered your tooth via a crack or untreated cavity, so it's a matter of restoring the tooth to close this access point, which in turn restores the structural integrity of the tooth. The best restoration will depend on the severity of the damage, and it might be as straightforward as having a cavity filled. More extensive deterioration may require a dental crown to fully encase the damaged tooth. 

When acute tooth pain is accompanied by facial swelling, please don't wait and see how it turns out while hoping for the best. Failing to seek immediate treatment can be risky.


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