Tooth Abscess Treatment Specialist in Los Angeles, CA

Unfortunately, a tooth abscess won’t go away on its own and will require you to seek dental intervention. While the pain from an abscess may stop if the infection causes the pulp inside the tooth to die, the bacteria from the infection will continue to spread and destroy surrounding tissue.

It can take days, weeks, or months for the infection to spread; however, the repercussions of letting it do so are severe. Left untreated, an abscess can affect the soft tissue in your face and neck as well as your jawbone. There is also a chance that the infection will spread to your heart and brain, which are life-threatening conditions.

How an abscess feels may vary slightly based on the severity of the infection and how far it has progressed. However, many people describe the pain from a tooth abscess as gnawing, throbbing, sharp, shooting, continuous (especially while chewing), and radiating.

You may also experience:

• A sore on the side of your gum.
• Bad breath.
• Bitter taste lingering in your mouth.
• Feeling ill.
• Fever.
• Gum irritation and swelling.
• Loosening of the affected tooth.
• Swelling in the jaw.
• Swollen lymph nodes.
• Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures.

Catching and treating an abscess early is an important part of making sure the infection doesn’t spread and become more serious. Book an appointment with your dental practitioner as soon as possible to avoid worsening symptoms and severe medical consequences.

If you develop mouth pain, a toothache, or a swollen bump along your gum line, you should book in to see your dentist or endodontist as soon as possible. The sooner you receive treatment, the more likely you are to stave off a serious infection and any complications.

In some cases, your regular dentist may not be able to treat an abscess, especially if it is severe or complex. In these cases, they will refer you to an endodontic specialist.

It’s important to note that there are some dental situations where you should go directly to the emergency room. This includes if you have a tooth abscess that is accompanied by one or more of the following:

• A fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
• An elevated heart rate.
• Confusion or cognitive impairments.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Facial swelling.

It’s important to make an appointment with your dental practitioner as soon as you begin noticing the signs of an abscess to prevent it from spreading and becoming more serious. In severe cases, infection will begin spreading to other parts of the body, resulting in unpleasant and/or harmful symptoms. These include:

• Severe headache.
• Difficulty opening the mouth.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Swelling in the neck, cheeks, jaw, or face.
• Painful mouth and tongue.
• Itching or burning sensation on the skin.
• Fever.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Double vision.
• Loss of vision.
• Confusion.
• Drooping eyelids.

Without prompt treatment, your risk of developing infections in the soft tissue, blood vessels, and bone surrounding the tooth increases dramatically. This includes harmful infections such as sepsis, which require intense medical treatment to remedy.

If you think you may have an abscess or your dental practitioner wants to refer you to a specialist for treatment, contact our certified dental professionals at Ace Endodontics. We are dedicated to safe and comfortable treatment that gets you the relief you’re looking for and restores your oral health to how it was before the infection. We are conveniently located at 11980 San Vicente Blvd Ste 900 Los Angeles, CA 90049. For more information, please contact us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Brentwood CA, Santa Monica CA, West Los Angeles CA, Beverly Hills CA, West Hollywood CA, Venice CA, Culver City CA, and surrounding areas.