Periodontal abscesses are not uncommon dental problems and should not be taken lightly. Not only has the potential to destroy the soft tissues and bones that support and connect the teeth to the socket, the infection caused by the abscess has many adverse effects on the whole body’s health.

Please learn more about this situation through the information that Hello Bacsi has summarized in the article below!

What is a periodontal abscess?

Abscess is a common name for localized inflammatory foci located under the skin or in the body’s internal organs, filled with pus. In pus mainly contains white blood cells, dead tissue cells and bacteria.

A periodontal abscess is an abscess that affects the tissue surrounding the root of a tooth, including the gums, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone, which supports and connects the tooth to the jawbone. Abscesses often occur within the periodontal pockets (the space between the gum and the root surface of the tooth), which deepens these pockets.

Periodontal abscess is a localized infection. Damaged periodontal tissue threatens the risk of permanent tooth loss. Over time, the infection can spread to the entire oral cavity and surrounding areas.

Causes of periodontal abscess

Periodontal abscess is a very common condition in patients with untreated periodontitis . When periodontitis, bacteria colonize underneath the periodontal pockets cause inflammation and destroy the root, the inflammation flares up to form an inner pocket filled with pus.

Periodontal abscess can also recur a few times during periodontitis treatment, due to food, tartar, bacteria left after cleaning the periodontal pocket or new invasion.

Sometimes, periodontal abscesses are not related to periodontitis, but can be caused by the following:

• People who are on systemic antibiotic treatment or have diabetes, pregnancy, or HIV infection, so their immune system is weakened, and they are easily attacked by bacteria.
• Due to internal trauma to the periodontal tissue, foreign bodies or abnormalities in the anatomical structure of the teeth, irritation and inflammation are formed.

Symptoms to recognize periodontal abscess

A periodontal abscess can be easily recognized with the following signs:

• Appearance: The swelling caused by the abscess may or may not be prominent, and the gums in the area of ​​the abscess may be pale, red, or normal in color.
• However, when pressing on the abscess, it seems to shrink, often feel quite a bit of pain and pressure on the adjacent tooth.
• With a large swollen periodontal abscess, the teeth may not be firmly attached to the gums, wobbly, andfeel like they are raised.
• Bad breath (not necessarily)
• Fever, fatigue, and local lymph node swelling indicate an infection that is affecting nearby areas and the entire body.

Periodontal abscess has two forms, acute and chronic

• Acute: The inflammation has no outlet, all the pus is trapped inside, increasing the pressure and the inflammatory reaction occurs strongly, so the symptoms of the abscess mentioned above are more obvious.
• Chronic: The inflammation has a drainage route, so the symptoms are reduced, not clear, the abscess is still shrunk, there may be dull pain and loose teeth, the inflammation lasts but the patient can still tolerate it.

Periodontal abscess can be easily recognized if periodontal disease is present

Along with the abscess, patients often have gingivitis, periodontitis for a long time with the following manifestations:

• Gums flutter, do not stick to the roots of the teeth
• Possible receding gums
• Gums that bleed easily, there may be yellow or pus discharge
• Deep periodontal pockets (from 4 mm)
• Poor oral hygiene, with lots of plaque and tartar

Signs of periodontal abscess through clinical examination

The doctor presses lightly, uses a periodontal probe to probe the size of the space between the gums and teeth or makes an incision to drain if pus is found. X-rays can show whether the abscess has affected the bone or not, there will usually be more or less horizontal or vertical bone loss if periodontitis is present.

In chronic periodontal abscess, the fistula (fissure) leading pus from the abscess through the underlying structures, opening up the gingival mucosa along the root, the orifice of the fistula is often covered and difficult to detect. A chronic abscess can turn acute if the orifice is blocked.

A periodontal abscess must be distinguished from a periapical abscess, which is also superficially an abscess along the lateral aspect of the root, but is caused by an infection emanating from the pulp.

Treatment of periodontal abscess – don’t hesitate

The treatment of periodontal abscess is essentially to clean the abscess, completely treat the local infection, then continue to treat the problem causing the abscess and overcome the consequences on the teeth and gums. . Depending on your oral health, treatment can be carried out over several appointments and includes the following steps:

• Do basic dental hygiene, remove tartar from the roots (if any)
• Solve acute abscess by making incision or draining the abscess, cleaning, removing pus along with inflammatory agents (food, bacteria, tartar, foreign body …)
• Clean the periodontal pocket with deep cleaning measures, root scraping …

The doctor completely destroys the bacteria in the abscess with topical antibiotics or oral antibiotics (if the infection is severe or spreading). In addition, the patient is given pain medication, can add mouthwash or antibacterial toothpaste.

After urgent treatment, if the patient has periodontitis, it needs to be treated, has anatomical abnormalities that need to be handled or damaged, it must be corrected (reconstruction of bones, ligaments, gums, adjustment of the bite. deviated…). The duration of treatment is fast or prolonged depending on the condition of the patient’s teeth and gums.

Home care after rescuing periodontal abscess

• You need to take medicine and clean your teeth according to your doctor’s instructions
• Should eat soft food
• Gargling withwarm salt water will help drain pus, clean abscesses and periodontal pockets more smoothly
• Follow-up appointment to ensure definitive treatment

Prevention of periodontal abscess and general dental disease

Dental diseases are often closely related. So, to avoid periodontal abscess and other problems, remember:

• Proper oral hygiene
• Go to the doctor as soon as you feel abnormal to avoid serious illness, which is costly and time consuming
• Periodic dental check-up at least once a year to check and clean teeth to prevent disease.

Hope you have gained basic and useful information about periodontal abscess through the above article. In order to take care of your teeth properly, avoid losing money and carrying defects, you should also choose standard and reliable dental facilities.