Years ago it was common for a dental infection to kill a patient. Since World War II and the discovery of penicillin, it's uncommon to hear of anyone dying from this. However, physicians and dentists have used antibiotics so much that many of the bacteria today can not be killed using antibiotic therapy.

           A dental infection usually starts with a dead tooth and a dental abscess. A dental abscess is a small area of pus filled with living and dead bacteria, white blood cells, and a lot of junk. If a dental abscess grows it can push into the muscles that open and close the mouth. When this happens it is extremely difficult for a dentist to do anything because the patient can not open her mouth wide enough for the dentist to help. Sometimes the infection is localized only as a gum infection.

          With antibiotic problems, it is even more important for everyone to take better care of their teeth and gums to prevent any kind of dental problem. Routine dental treatment will help keep your teeth and gums healthy so you won't form a dental abscess. Doing this can help you live a longer and happier life.

          One of the new generation antibiotics if often used to kill off the bacteria causing a dental infection. The patient should rest, not go to work and eat to strengthen the body's resistance to the infection. After taking the antibiotic, applying heat over the area helps bring blood and the antibiotic to the problem area.

          Some patients get worse and more dramatic treatment is needed with this type of infection. A patient with a severe dental infection is hospitalized and given IV antibiotics. If the infection causes swelling, the patient may have to be observed in the Intensive Care Unit to be sure that the swelling from the dental infection doesn't block off the patient's airway and cause suffocation. Incisions sometimes have to be made to drain the pus that causes the swelling.

          There is no good reason to avoid regular visits to the dentist every six months. Our office accepts insurance payments so that insurance patients pay very little for this very valuable dental service. Please consider making an appointment with Dr. Padolsky by calling 404-874-7428.