Similarly, being attentive to dental health is also critical to preventing painful conditions such as abscesses in the first place. However, we must stress that dental abscesses can last for months and even years if left untreated. What could be the possible effect of an untreated tooth abscess? An infection in the body is considered a threat. If left untreated, they can last for several months or years.
There are two types of dental abscesses: one can form under the tooth (periapical) and the other in the gum and supporting bone (periodontal). Dentists will treat a tooth abscess by draining it and eliminating the infection. They may be able to save your tooth with endodontic treatment. However, in some cases the tooth may need to be extracted.
Leaving a tooth abscess untreated can lead to serious and even fatal complications. People with a weakened immune system have a high risk of sepsis. Recent media coverage focused on a 26-year-old boy whose tooth with an abscess was not drained, causing the infection to spread to his bloodstream and causing his death. It's important to keep in mind that even if your pain decreases, you're still at risk.
When the root of the tooth dies, the pain may go away temporarily, but the damage that the infection causes to health is still very significant. Most abscesses are painful, so people usually seek treatment right away. Sometimes the infection causes little or no pain. If the abscesses aren't treated, the infection can last for months or even years.
It won't go away on its own, so it's important not to ignore the symptoms. In addition, if no treatment is applied to the condition, the precious dental pulp will die and you may have another abscess. If the abscess ruptures, the pain can improve a lot, making you think that the problem has disappeared, but that you still need dental treatment. If a person doesn't treat a tooth abscess in its early stage, the infection can last for 5 to 12 months or even longer.
To learn more about treating and preventing tooth abscesses, visit your Toorak dentist at Simply Smiles Dental. Symptoms of tooth abscess include a throbbing toothache, sensitive teeth, a bad taste in the mouth, difficulty opening the mouth, and fever.
