Tooth Abscess Complications

Complications caused by tooth abscess.

A tooth abscess is a complication of tooth decay. It is a small ball of pus surrounding by inflamed tissue. Pus is a pale yellow creamy consistency with liquified dead tissue, white blood cells, dead and live bacteria. It may also result from a tooth, which is broken or chipped. Openings in the tooth enamel allow bacteria to infect the center of the tooth. Infection may spread out from the root of the tooth and to the bones supporting the tooth. Therefore it's important to treat an infection as soon as it begins because a smaller abscess is easier to treat than a large fast growing one. The most common cause is a dead tooth.

Tooth abscess symptoms refers to various symptoms known to a patient, whereas Tooth abscess signs may refer to those signs which are only noticable by a doctor. The signs and symptoms of Tooth abscess complications include:

• Mild toothache in early stages.
• Swollen tooth.
• Mild dental pain.
• Pain chewing.
• Loss of appetite.
• Swollen red face on one-side.
• Fever.
• Malaise.
• Severe toothache in later stages.

Tooth abscess complications are secondary conditions, symptoms, or other disorders that are caused by Tooth abscess. The distinction between Tooth abscess symptoms and Tooth abscess complications is unclear in many cases. Other conditions that might have Tooth abscess as a complication may be an underlying cause of Tooth abscess.

Tooth abscess complications include:

• Loss of the tooth.
• Spread of infection to soft tissue.
• Jawbone damage.
• Brain abscess.
• Spread of infection to other areas of the body causing other disorders like endocarditis and pneumonia.
• Heart damage.
• Hospitalization.Coma and even death.

There are some other tooth abscess complications like:

• Sinusitis, a sinus problem that is any infection or inflammation of the sinus cavities behind the nose and eyes. Some underlying causes of sinusitis include allergies, hay fever or asthma. Its symptoms may vary according to which sinus cavity is infected; some are similar to cold or flu but other infections are not. Coughing, Sneezing, Tiredness, Aches and Severe headache are other symptoms of sinusitis.
• Actinomycosis, another tooth abscess complication is an infection that results from the bacteria called Actinomyces. This bacterium is normally present in the mouth but can cause disease if it enters tissues following an injury It is characterized by the presence of a lump or mass that often forms, draining sinus tracts to the skin surface. Some of the symptoms of Actinomycosis include swollen jaw, Jaw pain, Tooth pain and Pus in the mouth.
• A life-threatening deep neck infection is an uncommon complication of tooth abscess. Some of symptoms include swelling below the inferior border of the mandible, fever, excessive trismus, floor of mouth or tongue elevations, muffled voice, inability to tolerate secretions and protruding and deviation of the pharyngeal walls. Quick medical treatment will minimize the morbidity and mortality of these serious infections.