Can a tooth abscess be misdiagnosed?

In some cases, an undiagnosed dental abscess can cause other rather more severe symptoms and if left untreated for a prolonged period, can cause fatigue, headaches, jaw lock and the loss of more than one tooth.

Is it an abscess or something else?

While a cyst is a sac enclosed by distinct abnormal cells, an abscess is a pus-filled infection in your body caused by, for example, bacteria or fungi. The main difference in symptoms is: a cyst grows slowly and isn’t usually painful, unless it becomes enlarged.

What can mimic a tooth infection?

Because of their proximity to the teeth, the pain from the joints can radiate into the dental area and mimic a toothache. Ear or sinus infections. Both the ears and the maxillary sinus are subject to infections that can cause severe pain and pressure.

Is it a tooth abscess or something else?

A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus that’s caused by a bacterial infection. The abscess can occur at different regions of the tooth for different reasons. A periapical (per-e-AP-ih-kul) abscess occurs at the tip of the root, whereas a periodontal (per-e-o-DON-tul) abscess occurs in the gums at the side of a tooth root.

Can a tooth abscess be hidden?

Mouth infections tucked away beneath crowns, implants, root canals, tooth sockets, or jaw recesses are often difficult to detect due to lack of symptoms. In fact, up to 1 in 4 people could possess a hidden tooth infection and not even know it!

Will antibiotics stop an abscess from growing?

Unlike other infections, antibiotics alone will not usually cure an abscess. In general an abscess must open and drain in order for it to improve. Sometimes draining occurs on its own, but generally it must be opened with the help of a warm compress or by a doctor in a procedure called incision and drainage (I&D).

Can a tooth abscess be invisible?

Those dental abscesses that develop a fistula or a gum-boil are visible, but it is possible for there to be no visible sign that an abscess has formed.

Can a dental abscess make you feel unwell?

Sometimes the infection can get to the point where swelling threatens to block the airway, making it hard to breathe. Dental abscesses can also make you generally ill, with nausea, vomiting, fevers, chills, and sweats.

What is a periodontal abscess?

A periodontal abscess is a pocket of pus in the tissues of the gum. It looks like a small red ball pushing out of the swollen gum. An abscess can occur with serious gum disease (periodontitis), which causes the gums to pull away from the teeth. This leaves deep pockets where bacteria can grow.

Can you have a dental abscess for years?

If they are not treated, they can last for several months or years. There are two types of dental abscess – one can form under the tooth (periapical) and the other in the supporting gum and bone (periodontal). An abscessed tooth comes in two different forms: acute and chronic.