Never Take Your Healthy Teeth for Granted

A dental abscess is one of the more serious oral health issues that you might experience. Yet, it can be exceedingly difficult for you to protect your mouth against this serious health threat without having a thorough understanding about the answers to some basic but important questions concerning abscesses.

Can An Abscess In A Tooth Spread?

Patients that have developed dental abscesses will often be making decisions under the assumption that dental abscesses will be confined to the infected tooth. Sadly, an abscess's ability to spread is one of the most dangerous features of this problem. It can be possible for an abscess to spread to neighboring teeth or to grow deep into the jaw bone and gum tissue. In some instances, it may be possible for bacteria from the abscess to infect other areas of the body, which could pose a serious medical situation that may require hospitalization to correct. For these reasons, it is important to make sure that you get any abscesses treated promptly or else you may greatly complicate your treatment and recovery while substantially increasing the treatment expenses you will have to pay.

Why Is A Crown Needed To Treat An Abscessed Tooth?

In order for you to have your abscess treated without removing the tooth, it will be necessary for your dentist to use a dental crown. While a crown can be an expensive treatment, it will cost far less than a replacement tooth. When this treatment is pursued, your dentist will drill a hole in the top of the tooth so that they clean out the infected soft tissue from the tooth's interior. To strengthen the tooth after this process, the crown is necessary or else the tooth would be more likely to crack or shatter.

What Can You Do To Protect Your Teeth Against Developing Abscesses In The Future?

An abscess can be a very painful dental problem that will be costly and inconvenient to repair. Not surprisingly, you will want to take steps to prevent this problem from returning in the future. One of the most effective ways of preventing abscesses is to practice sound dental hygiene, as this will limit the risk of gum disease and cavities that could make you more susceptible to this problem. Additionally, you should have any damage to your teeth checked by a dental professional as soon as possible, as this will limit the ability of bacteria to infect the tooth can form an abscess.

For more information and treatment options, contact a family dentist  clinic in your area, such as C. James Goodwin, DDS, PLLC.