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Abscess (Dental Infection)
An abscess may appear as a "pimple" or "bubble" on the soft tissues of the mouth (as seen in picture above). This may occur as the result of deep dental cavities or trauma. An abscess is a limited area of pus formed as a result of a bacterial infection. The body's immune system reacts to the infection and sends white blood cells to the area to try to get rid of the bacteria. Pus is a mixture of live and dead white blood cells, enzymes, and parts of destroyed cells and tissues. When there is no way for the pus to drain, it forms an abscess by working its way out the end of the root of the tooth, through the surrounding bone, and forms an abscess on the gums which may go away and then reform with time. If you see this kind of pimple or bubble on the inside of your child's mouth, call our office for an appointment. We will have to take an x-ray to correctly diagnose the infection. Treatment for an abscess caused by a dental infection is extraction of the offending tooth.
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Doctor Haeberlein, Dr. Wang and the other Doctors in the Discovery Dental Group make no warranties, expressed or implied, as to any results to be obtained from use of the information "What should I do in a Dental Emergency." We cannot diagnose or treat patients over the Internet. Information on this site is for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal, medical, and/or dental attention or diagnosis. Without all available information about a patient, it is impossible to make a diagnosis. Help and answers are in the form of general ideas. Only you, your dentist, and other necessary and qualified health care providers can make an appropriate treatment decision in an emergency or for everyday care and dental treatment.
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