If you have an abscessed tooth, you’re probably aware of the pain and discomfort this condition can cause. The preferred treatment for a dental abscess involves draining the infection, removing severely damaged tissue, and treating the tooth to prevent further infection, preserving the tooth itself, though this isn’t an option in some cases. When the affected tooth is significantly damaged, or when infection has begun to affect the surrounding tissues, it may become necessary to extract the abscessed tooth. If you have an abscessed tooth, you might be curious about this extraction procedure, how it will affect the abscess, and what you should expect following extraction.
For the first line of treatment, your dentist will try to save and restore your natural tooth using antibiotics and minimally invasive treatment methods. If this isn’t possible and your dentist determines that the tooth needs to be extracted, the abscess will heal once the infected tooth has been extracted. Once the source of infection is removed, your body will continue to fight off infection, and the pus pocket that characterizes an abscess will gradually reduce and be eliminated, which could take a few days to as long as a month or more. Taking proper care of the extraction site is an important part of preventing additional infection, so make sure to closely follow any aftercare instructions provided by your dentist or oral surgeon. You’ll need to monitor and periodically change the gauze packing that protects your extraction site, and you’ll learn how to safely keep the area clean as it heals.
In cases of larger or more severe dental abscess, or for patients with compromised immune systems, your dental professional may prescribe oral antibiotics to manage infection as the abscess heals. Applying this added measure as needed, abscesses usually heal properly following extraction of an abscessed tooth. However, there are some risks of side effects developing following extraction. One of the more common risks is a dry socket, which forms when the healing blood clot in a tooth socket dislodges or dissolves before the extraction site has healed. Dry sockets are painful and delay healing, and aftercare instructions include guidance toward avoiding dry sockets, like refraining from smoking, sucking through a straw, or otherwise disturbing the extraction site.
It is also possible for an abscess to become infected again after the tooth is extracted, though this complication is rare and often preventable. The nerves that surround the extraction site might also sustain damage during tooth extraction, which could lead to nerve damage that causes numbness or a tingling sensation in the mouth or in certain areas of the face. This nerve damage could be temporary or permanent and is also considered a rare side effect of dental extraction. If you notice any unexpected discomfort or unusual symptoms following extraction of an abscessed tooth, see your dentist promptly for follow-up attention; while the healing timeline may be prolonged, by observing dentist’s guidelines, the health of the oral cavity can be fully restored after extracting an abscessed tooth. Once the extraction site has healed and the oral health is renewed, you and your dentist can decide on the best type of dental prosthetic to replace the missing tooth and restore the appearance and function of your dentition.