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Abscessed Tooth Center - Iowa City, IA

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Iowa City, Iowa

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Abscessed Tooth

What are the symptoms of an abscessed tooth?

A toothache that is severe and continuous and results in gnawing or throbbing pain or sharp or shooting pain are common symptoms of an abscessed tooth. Other symptoms may include:

What does an abscessed tooth look like?
  • Fever
  • Pain when chewing
  • Sensitivity of the teeth to hot or cold
  • Bitter taste in the mouth
  • Foul smell to the breath
  • Swollen neck glands
  • General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling
  • Redness and swelling of the gums
  • Swollen area of the upper or lower jaw
  • An open, draining sore on the side of the gum

If the root of the tooth dies as a result of infection, the toothache may stop. However, this doesn't mean the infection has healed; the infection remains active and continues to spread and destroy tissue. Therefore, if you experience any of the above listed symptoms, it is important to see a dentist even if the pain subsides.

How is an abscessed tooth diagnosed?

Your dentist will probe your teeth with a dental instrument. If you have an abscessed tooth, you will feel pain when the tooth is tapped by your dentist's probe. Your dentist will also ask you if your pain increases when you bite down or when you close your mouth tightly. In addition, your dentist may suspect an abscessed tooth because your gums may be swollen and red.

Your dentist may also take X-rays to look for erosion of the bone around the abscess.

How is an abscessed tooth treated?

Strategies to eliminate the infection, preserve the tooth, and prevent complications are the goals of treatment for an abscessed tooth.

To eliminate infec...

Recommended Reading Related to Abscessed Tooth

Problems With Dental Fillings »

Introduction

Tooth sensitivity following placement of a filling is fairly common. A tooth may be sensitive to pressure, air, sweet foods, or temperature. Usually, the sensitivity resolves on its own within a few weeks. During this time, avoid those things that are causing the sensitivity. Pain relievers are generally not required.

Contact your dentist if the sensitivity does not subside within 2 to 4 weeks or if your tooth is extremely sensitive. He or she may recommend you use a desensitizing toothpaste, may apply a desensitizing agent to the tooth, or possibly suggest a root canal procedure.

Pain Around Fillings

There are several explanations for pain around fillings, each resulting from a different cause.

  1. Pain when you bite. With this type of pain, the pain occurs when you bite down. The pain is noticed soon after the anesthesia wears off and continues over time. In this case, the...

Emergency Contact for Iowa City

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Iowa City Hospitals *

Mercy Hospital Iowa City
500 E Market St
Iowa City, IA 52245
(319)339-0300

Iowa City VA Medical Center
601 Highway 6 W
Iowa City, IA 52246
(319)338-0581

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
200 Hawkins Dr
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319)356-1616

Mercy Medical Center Cedar Rapids
701 Tenth St SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
(319)398-6011

St Luke's Hospital
1026 A Ave NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
(319)369-7211

Washington County Hospital
400 E Polk St
Washington, IA 52353
(319)653-5481

Unity Hospital
1518 Mulberry Ave
Muscatine, IA 52761
(563)264-9100

Marengo Memorial Hospital
300 W May St
Marengo, IA 52301
(319)642-5543

Jones Regional Medical Center
1795 Highway 64 E
Anamosa, IA 52205
(319)462-6131

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