An abscess is a pocket around an infection that fills up with pus. As more puss fills the pocket, the skin surrounding the abscess will swell. Like a balloon, if you fill the pocket with too much pus it will burst. That will send out the liquid inside the abscess out to the body. After that happens, a person will need to know what can happen to their body next.
Spreading An Infection
When an infection is only in one part of the body, it is easier to treat. The wider the infection spreads the harder it is to treat. Eventually, an infection can spread throughout the entire body and cause a condition called sepsis. This is a life-threatening condition.
The first step in treating an abscess is cleaning out the infection. It is best to take care of the infection when it is located only in the area of the abscess. A combination of medications and oral surgery can clear up the infection before it gets worse.
If the infection is not cleared up, it can eventually spread to other parts of the body. One way this can happen is when the abscess bursts. The pus inside the abscess can then get into the bloodstream and can easily spread to the other parts of the body causing the widespread infection.
Treating An Abscess That Burst
Treating an abscess that has not burst is something that can happen in one or two visits. It is possible to do a root canal and then use medications to take care of any remaining infection. When the abscess bursts, the way to treat the abscess changes.
Instead of performing the oral surgery and then giving medications, it is necessary to treat the infection first. That means taking a course of medicine before performing any oral surgery. A person has to wait longer to get the relief they want from their abscess because it burst.
Anyone with a dental abscess should not ignore it until it bursts. Treating the abscess earlier is always easier than treating a burst abscess later. For more information about this or any other oral health issue, contact our office to schedule an appointment.
