Dental Abscess

Stop Gum Disease & Infections

Treat Dental Abscesses | Decatur Georgia

When a tooth undergoes severe decay, or it gets chipped, or broken, bacteria can get in the openings and cause infection. This can also happened with gingivitis or gum disease sets in as well. When this infection travels to the root of the tooth, or between the gum and the tooth, a dental abscess takes place. The most common way to treat this problem is through an incision & drainage procedure.

Dental abscesses can be painful and dangerous
If left untreated, a dental abscess can grow more painful, and the infection can spread to other parts of your body. Your jaw, neck and head may experience swelling. You probably will develop a fever as your body fights the infection, You may develop an open and draining sore on the side of your gum. And you may also experience a bitter taste in your mouth and a foul smell on your breath. Even after the pulp in tooth dies because of the infection and the tooth pain subsides, the infection can still remain active, continuing to spread and destroy other tissue.

An Incision & Drainage procedure will reduce swelling and pain
At Metro Decatur Dental Group PC, we understand the serious issues that a tooth and gum infection can create. After diagnosis, we undertake an aggressive strategy to eliminate the infection and preserve the tooth and gums. In most cases, this involves an I & D treatment. Also known as an Incision & Drainage treatment, we treat it by giving patients a combination of antibiotics to treat the infection as well as making an incision and in some cases, inserting a small drain to siphon off the infection and puss in the infected area. After the site is drained, we irrigate it with a sterile saline solution and continue monitoring the area during the healing process.

After your I & D procedure
Managing the immediate area in your mouth after an I & D procedure has taken place is critical to restoring your mouth to full health as quickly as possible. Some of the most important steps you should take will include:
Do not touch the surgical wound or the drain by touching it with your fingers or your tongue.
If bleeding takes place after the fact, bite on a piece of surgical gauze for 30-60 minutes at a time to control it. If bleeding is still taking place, apply direct pressure with a moistened tea bag. Tea has tannic acid which is an astringent which constricts blood vessels.
Do not use heat or ice for the first 72 hours. Heat may spread the infection. Ice may slow down the dissipation of the infection.
Take your antibiotics exactly as prescribed. For mild pain, use Tylenol or ibuprofen such as Motrin or Advil. Any severe pain will be dealt with using a prescribed medication.
Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Stay on a soft foods diet until the pain and swelling diminish.
Avoid strenuous exercise until the pain and swelling abate. Walking, moving around or sitting upright in a chair interspersed with naps is part of the optimal recovery regimen.
Infections create fevers. If your temperature rises about 101 degrees, you should contact Metro Decatur Dental Group PC immediately.
Dental abscesses are painful and can have an impact on many parts of your body. Treating an abscess through an Incision & Drainage procedure is critical to restoring your mouth, teeth and gums to full dental health.
Metro Decatur Dental Group PC serves patients all throughout DeKalb County, GA. To discuss your specific dental needs, contact our Decatur, Georgia office at 404-292-3133