Related articles: Gingival abscess
Definition
A gingival abscess is a cavity filled with pus that appears due to a problem with a tooth or to the periodontium (an apparatus supporting the tooth consisting of a periodontal ligament, gingiva, cement and alveolar bone).
The causes of a gingival abscess are various. Often, the disorder depends on tooth decay, especially if hidden or deep. In fact, this process can affect not only the most superficial part of the tooth (enamel and dentin), but also the innermost part (pulp). When the latter is seriously involved it can predispose to pulpitis, an inflammation which, due to infectious sequelae, can predispose to the formation of an abscess.
Other conditions that may evolve in this complication are periodontal disease (a condition in which the supporting tissues of the tooth are attacked) and the difficulty of erupting the wisdom tooth.
Most common symptoms and signs *
- Halitosis
- Gum pain
- Temperature
- Pus formation
- Swollen Gums
- Reddened gums
- Toothache
- Teeth mobility
Further indications
Abscesses on the gum may look like a lentil-sized nodule; other times they appear as a local, mobile and painful redness.
Initially, there is only a feeling of annoyance, amplified by the pressure exerted by the chewing of hard foods. The gum swells rapidly and an intense dull, continuous and localized pain appears.
In some cases, the tooth begins to move slightly and may rise from its alveolus due to the pressure exerted by the pus that collects at the apex. The slightly extruded tooth is perceived as "longer", when the patient occludes the dental arches. Sometimes fever and general malaise may be present.
If not treated early, the gingival abscess finds an outlet to the outside, going beyond the internal mucosa of the mouth or, more rarely, it can perforate the skin of the face, causing the appearance of a fistula.
The diagnosis is based on medical history and physical examination, which uses provocative stimuli (application of heat, cold, percussion). Radiographs help determine if the inflammation has extended beyond the tooth apex and allow other conditions to be excluded.
Gingival abscess involves treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to relieve pain. After resolving the acute phenomenon, the dentist cuts into the abscess to allow drainage of the pus collection or opens a passage in the upper part of the tooth (if it is not compromised) to clean the internal channels. In the most serious cases, however, extraction becomes necessary.
