Apical periodontitis is an inflammation of the gums around the tooth root caused by infection or root canal trauma. Acute apical periodontitis affects one tooth and causes pain, swelling, and sensitivity. Treatment involves removing the infected tooth or root canal treatment. Chronic apical periodontitis can cause cysts and spread to other teeth and parts of the body. Good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups can prevent the condition.
Apical periodontitis is an inflammation of the gums surrounding the tooth root. It is usually caused by some sort of infection in the mouth, although root canal trauma and treatment have been known to cause the condition. There are two types of apical periodontitis, acute and chronic.
Acute apical periodontitis affects one tooth at a time. When impacted, the gums around the tooth will swell and turn deep red, becoming extremely sensitive to touch. The pain associated with the inflammation is usually so great that chewing and biting becomes very difficult. If the cause of the disease is an infection, it can sometimes be accompanied by fever or general swelling of the face.
In the case of acute apical periodontitis, symptoms occur rapidly. The pain starts suddenly and becomes severe almost immediately. If left untreated, complications of the condition can occur, including the formation of pus-filled abscesses and swollen lymph nodes along the face and neck. In severe cases, the infection can spread to other parts of the body and can even become life-threatening.
Treatment for acute apical periodontitis usually involves complete removal of the affected tooth. This removes the source of the infection as well as any abscesses or puss. If it appears that the infected tooth can be spared, root canal treatment may be performed in lieu of complete tooth removal.
If treatment for acute apical periodontitis has not been entirely successful, then it can progress to a low-grade infection which can cause the disease to change chronically. In these cases, the recurring infection has usually killed the tooth completely and needs to be removed. Because the tooth is dead, there is less pain because the nerves that cause the pain are also dead.
While chronic apical periodontitis isn’t that painful, it can cause serious complications just like the acute version of the disease. The disease can spread, affecting other teeth, and cysts can form around the tops of the affected teeth. Also, just like the acute form of the disease, the infection can also spread to other parts of the body and become life-threatening if not treated in time.
The best treatment for apical periodontitis is to make sure it doesn’t happen in the first place. Most infections can be completely prevented by practicing good oral hygiene. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash every day can reduce the chance of an oral infection. Regular checkups by a dentist are also recommended.
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