Many people believe that they can identify a Dental abscess visually. What they are actually identifying is the result of the dental abscess. When the tooth is infected with a periapical abscess a small tunnel or channel can form when the absccess has no where to drain. The body creates it’s own path for drainage and that bump seen in the mouth and on the gum tissue is actually called a fistula.
Clinical definition
A Dental Abscess or periapical infection is a pocket full of pus that is caused by bacterial infection. The abscess can occur at different areas around the root for a variety of reasons.
As a Dental Hygienist it is important to alert the Dentist if this is noticed during a hygiene assessment. This infection can sometimes go completely unnoticed by the patient. Sometimes the patient is aware that they have a bump on their gums but have no other symptoms. In many other cases the infection can cause serious pain.
It is important to know that immediate relief of symptoms can occur with drainage and prescribed medication by the Dentist but the root cause of the infection must be addressed or the symptoms will return. This is another reason why visiting the Dentist for regular check ups is so important.