When a tooth infection spreads to the jaw, it can cause serious, potentially fatal complications. Here are some of the possible outcomes:
If left untreated, tooth infections can become serious and potentially fatal. If a tooth infection is not treated properly, it can spread to other body parts, like the jaw, sinuses, and bloodstream. The followings are some signs and symptoms that a tooth infection has spread:
Several factors will determine a tooth infection’s treatment. Your dentist will investigate the abscess’s location, the extent of its spread, and how your immune system responds to the infection. With that said, here are some options available at the dentist’s office for treating an abscessed tooth.
A root canal treatment is a method of removing an abscess that has spread deep within the tooth. The dentist will drill a hole into the tooth to remove accumulated bacteria and pus at the roots. After the abscess has been treated, the dentist will fill the hole with a rubbery substance to allow it to heal.
After the tooth has healed, they will use a permanent filling or dental crown to prevent further infections. The dentist may advise you also to practice good dental hygiene to keep the canals healthy.
When a root canal treatment is insufficient to eliminate tooth infection, a dentist may recommend an apicoectomy. This is especially true if the infection has spread to the tooth’s roots and tissue. The patient’s gums are opened during this procedure so that your dentist can remove the tooth roots and the abscessed tissue.
People with septicemia must be admitted to an intensive care unit for treatment. Intravenous fluids and antibiotics are required to treat a patient using this approach. Other treatments, like dialysis and surgery, may be required to support the patient’s body while limiting the infection’s damage.
If the infection is not so severe, a dentist at Absolute Dental may simply prescribe antibiotics to patients. This type of medication is designed to help reduce the infection and keep it from spreading. If the infection has already spread, the antibiotic treatment may need to be extended.
Alternatively, your dentist in Gilbert, AZ, may advise you to try a different type of medication. In severe cases, patients will be given antibiotics via intravenous drips at the hospital.