Guide To Preventing And Treating A Dental Abscess

Oral Surgery

Oral surgery may be needed in particular types of abscesses and in abscesses that are severe or recurring. Though general dentists can perform minor procedures, oral surgeons typically handle most oral surgeries. This treatment is often recommended for patients who have periapical abscesses, which start in the soft pulp of the tooth, and are experiencing a recurring infection. In these cases, surgeons will simply remove the affected tissue.

Surgery may also be appropriate for patients with periodontal abscesses that begin in the jaw and affect the gums. These patients will have the diseased gum pocket removed, and the surrounding gum tissue will be reshaped. The surgery is generally performed at specialist dental surgery facilities. Patients often have local anesthesia, usually combined with light sedation given intravenously. Patients must avoid eating or drinking for at least eight hours before their procedure, and someone must take the patient home following the operation. Patient's vital signs, including their heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure, will be closely monitored during the procedure. After surgery, patients may be prescribed pain relievers, and they will have follow-up appointments with the oral surgeon and their dentist to check progress.

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Gargle With Salt Water

An individual affected by a dental abscess or who wants to prevent the development of a dental abscess can gargle with salt water. This is a mixture of water and regular table salt that can be used to ease dental pain. When bacteria invade areas underneath the gums and colonize, a dental abscess develops. Gargling with salt water helps wash bacteria from an individual's mouth who is having trouble keeping their teeth and gums clear of infections. Doing this is effective at alleviating the pain that may be caused by an infection in the gums that has not yet developed into a full-blown dental abscess. An individual who has recently undergone any type of dental procedure can also gargle with salt water to prevent the development of an infection at the site of a surgical incision or an extracted tooth. While salt water is not known to be able to kill all types of bacteria in the mouth that cause dental abscesses, it is known to help pull the bacteria to the surface of the gums and teeth so it can be washed away easier.

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