Dealing with severe tooth pain or sudden swelling can be frightening. At ROC Perio & Implants, located in Rochester, NY, and serving all of Monroe County, we specialize in comprehensive periodontal treatment and emergency dental care.

If you are suffering from an infection, our team of board-certified periodontists is here to provide fast, effective periodontal abscess treatment to relieve your discomfort and protect your oral health.

What is an Abscessed Tooth or Periodontal Abscess?

An abscess is a localized pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection. In dentistry, these can occur in different areas:

• Periodontal Abscess: This painful infection occurs in the gum tissue, often within deep periodontal pockets caused by advanced gum disease.
• Tooth Abscess (Periapical): This infection occurs in the pulp of a tooth. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including severe tooth decay, a broken tooth, or trauma.

Whether the infection originates in the tooth pulp or the surrounding gum tissue, it is a serious condition. If left untreated, an abscessed tooth or periodontal abscess can cause serious damage to your jawbone, adjacent teeth, and become a more systematic health issue.

Symptoms: Do You Need Emergency Dental Treatment?

A dental abscess is considered a dental emergency. You should schedule an appointment as soon as possible if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• A severe, persistent toothache that throbs or radiates to the jawbone, neck, or ear
• Significant swelling in your face, cheek, or gums
• Red, swollen, or bleeding gum tissue
• A foul-taste, or pus coming from the gum tissue around a tooth or dental implant (which happens if the abscess ruptures)
• Pain when chewing or sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures

Note: If your swelling is severe enough to affect your breathing or swallowing, you should go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

Why is Abscessed Tooth Treatment Important?

Seeking immediate disease treatment is critical for anyone experiencing pain or discomfort due to an abscess. The infection will not go away on its own.

Professional treatment helps to safely remove the infected tissue, drain the pus, and restore the health of the affected area. By addressing the root cause, we can prevent the progression of the infection, stop it from spreading to other parts of your body, and improve your overall oral health. Early intervention is also the best way to save the tooth and avoid a tooth extraction.

What Happens During an Abscessed Tooth Treatment Appointment?

When you arrive at our Rochester clinic, our primary goal is to ease your discomfort and eliminate the infection. Your dental experience will typically follow these steps:

• Thorough Diagnosis: We will perform a comprehensive exam and take a dental x-ray to determine the exact location and severity of the infection.
• Personalized Treatment Plan: Depending on whether you have a periodontal abscess or an infection in the tooth pulp, your treatment plan will vary.
• Removing the Infection: The procedure may involve draining the abscess to relieve pressure. For periodontal issues, we may perform deep cleaning procedures like scaling and root planing to remove plaque and tartar from below the gum line. In some cases, advanced laser gum treatment or minor gum surgery is necessary to thoroughly clean the diseased pocket.
• Restoring Health: If the tooth cannot be saved, a tooth extraction may be required. However, we always strive to preserve your natural smile whenever possible.

We understand that dental emergencies can cause severe anxiety. Our dental team is trained to provide compassionate care, and all procedures are performed using local anesthesia to ensure a painless experience.

Restorative Dentistry and Dental Implants

If an extraction is unavoidable due to severe infection or advanced periodontal disease, our specialists can seamlessly guide you through the replacement process. We offer state-of-the-art dental implants to replace missing teeth. A dental implant looks, feels, and functions just like a natural tooth, ensuring your smile remains complete and healthy for years to come.

Why Choose ROC Perio & Implants?

Our highly trained periodontists are specialists in treating the soft tissue and bone supporting your teeth. By combining advanced dental technology with a deep understanding of periodontology, we provide targeted gum disease treatment that general dentists may refer out.

Frequently Asked Questions