- With Mayo Clinic prosthodontist
Alan Carr, D.M.D.
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Alan Carr, D.M.D.
Alan B. Carr, D.M.D.
Dr. Alan B. Carr, Department of Dental Specialties at Mayo Clinic, is a consultant in the Division of Prosthodontics and a professor of dentistry at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
Dr. Carr, a native of Hattiesburg, MS., received his prosthodontics training at Mayo. Following his training he has was an assistant professor at Marquette University and then became a full professor at Ohio State University where his clinical duties included Director of Maxillofacial Prosthetics at the James Cancer Hospital. He returned to Mayo in 2000.
Dr. Carr is board certified by the American Board of Prosthodontics. He served in the Air Force and has degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi, University of Mississippi and Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. He also is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, the American College of Prosthodontists and the American Dental Association. He has made dozens of international and national presentations, and is author of a dental textbook.
His clinical practice focuses on combined prosthodontics and reconstruction of patients with disabling oral conditions. His research interests include oral and craniofacial endosseous implants, tobacco cessation, and the impact of oral health on general health, especially for patients with chronic illness and the elderly.
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Question
Tooth abscess: What are the symptoms?
What are the symptoms of a tooth abscess? Will a tooth abscess go away on its own, or do I need to visit the dentist?
Answer
from Alan Carr, D.M.D.
A tooth abscess is a collection of pus that's caused by a bacterial infection in the root of a tooth or in the gum tissue surrounding the tooth. The primary symptom of a tooth abscess is a severe, persistent, throbbing toothache. Initially, the tooth may be sensitive to heat and the pressure of chewing or biting. Later, you may develop a fever, swelling in your face or cheek, and tender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck. If the abscess ruptures, you'll have a sudden rush of foul-smelling and foul-tasting fluid in your mouth.
A tooth abscess won't go away without treatment. If the abscess ruptures, the pain may decrease significantly — but dental treatment is still needed. If the abscess doesn't drain, the infection may spread to other areas of your head and neck. It may even become life-threatening.
To treat a tooth abscess, the dentist will likely drain the abscess and prescribe antibiotics to eliminate the infection. While the area is healing, the dentist may recommend rinsing your mouth with warm salt water and taking over-the-counter pain relievers as needed. In some cases, a root canal may be necessary. In other cases, the affected tooth must be pulled.
