What Can Cause a Tooth Abscess?
By Robert Rutner | Published on December 7, 2010 | 0 Comments
A tooth abscess is an infection in the tooth that can be caused by many things, explains Dr. Robert Rutner. A prominent dentist in Mountain View, CA who practices at Rutner Dental, Dr. Rutner advises patients to seek medical attention as quickly as possible in the event of a tooth abscess.
More specifically, Dr. Rutner says that a tooth abscess is an infection of the nerve that typically starts in the center of a tooth. Once the infection begins, it will travel down to the bottom of the tooth – also known as the apex or the tip of the root. As the tip of the root gets infected and the surrounding tissues get infected, pressure will build up and the infectious material will look for a way to get out.
Unlike cavities, which tend to cause excessive amounts of pain, most people who have tooth abscesses never even realize as much until they notice a growth in the mouth that looks like a pimple. This “pimple” is filled with a type of puss, which Dr. Rutner says forms when the human body is trying to take care of an infection. The infection itself does not have much color, but the white or red puss that most patients see is actually the result of the body trying to handle the infection on its own.
In order to get outside the tooth, the infection – or, more specifically, the puss-like material commonly associated with tooth abscesses – will look for the weakest area along the tooth. In many instances, Dr. Rutner says the weakest area may be through part of the bone or along the gum line. Wherever that weakest area happens to be, that is the place where the puss or ooze will eventually come out.
The causes of tooth abscesses can vary, although the most common reason is when a person has had a large filling or crown put over the top of a tooth, and an infection has spread underneath. When a nerve gets infected – and when the infected nerve remains untreated for a long time – there’s a good chance that a tooth abscess will result.
Dr. Rutner says that infections within the nerve area tend to be very slow growing, and it can take a long time for an infection in a tooth to ever even reach the nerve. When the infection does reach the nerve, however, puss and ooze will begin looking for an escape. And when this happens, it’s time to see the dentist right away.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.