DEFINITION:

Infection of the tooth or the gum. There are multiple possible causes for an abcess like an advanced tooth decay, a tooth fracture or an advanced gum disease. In the case of a tooth decay, the infection reaches the pulp of the tooth. If not treated, the infection will grow and affect other surrounding structures, like the bone and the adjacent teeth.

SYMPTOMS:

•Redness and swelling of the gum.

•Pain by waves, like a heart beat

•The pain may wake you up at night

TREATMENTS:

•Antibiotherapy

•Draining of the pus

•Endodontic treatment of the tooth (root canal), followed by a crown, allows a proper treatment.

PREVENTION:

•Daily oral hygiene including brushing and flossing.

•Biannual dental exams and teeth cleaning (2x/year).

SOURCES:     Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (www.wikipedia.org).

                            WebMD, better information, better health (www.webmd.com).