Transcript of
Dental abscess animation
Dental abscess
A dental abscess is an infection which causes a collection of puss
that can form in the teeth or the gums and the bone around the teeth
as a result of a bacterial infection.
Your tooth is made up of a hard, white protective layer, the enamel,
which covers and protects a softer, yellow tissue called dentin.
At the very centre of the tooth is the soft pulp
where blood vessels and nerves are found.
You tooth is connected to the jaw by very strong fibres,
which are together called the periodontal ligament.
Dental plaque is a soft, sticky film, made up mainly of bacteria,
which forms on the teeth and is present in all mouths.
Plaque bacteria converts sugars from the diet to produce acid,
which softens the tooth surface,
starting the process of tooth decay.
Holes in the enamel may then develop,
that if neglected, eventually reach the centre of the tooth.
When the bacteria reach the tooth pulp,
white blood cells pour into the affected area and puss forms,
producing an abscess in the tooth.
If this is not drained, an access will affect the bone around the root.
This is known as a periapical abscess,
the most common type of dental abscess.
Severe trauma to a tooth may damage the pulp
and also result in a periapical abscess.
A periapical abscess is treated by drainage through the tooth.
In addition, it may require treatment with antibiotics.
A permanent root filling is put in at a later date to prevent further infection.
Sometimes an abscess occurs in the supporting tissues around the tooth.
This is called a periodontal abscess.
It is usually associated with gum disease,
when the gums become inflamed and separate from the teeth,
allowing bacteria to collect in pockets around the tooth root.
Periodontal abscesses are initially treated by deep cleaning of the pocket,
allowing drainage of the puss.
Surgery is sometimes needed at a later date to reshape the gum.
If left untreated, the tooth may also need to be extracted
as a result of a dental abscess.
In addition, the bacteria from the dental abscess
can spread to other areas,
including through the nearby bone
and into the air-filled spaces behind the cheekbones.
Infections that spread very widely within the head and neck
can be life-threatening,
but are very rare.
