Abscess

Abscess

An abscess is a collection of pus that has accumulated in a cavity formed by the tissue in which the pus resides due to an infectious process or other foreign materials...

es of the periodontium

Periodontium

Periodontium refers to the specialized tissues that both surround and support the teeth, maintaining them in the maxillary and mandibular bones. The word comes from the Greek terms peri-, meaning "around" and -odons, meaning "tooth." Literally taken, it means that which is "around the tooth"...

are localized acute

Acute

Acute may refer to:* Acute accent* Acute angle* Acute * Acute * Acute toxicity...

 bacterial infections classified primarily based on location.

Types

There are four types of abscesses associated with the periodontal tissues

Periodontium

Periodontium refers to the specialized tissues that both surround and support the teeth, maintaining them in the maxillary and mandibular bones. The word comes from the Greek terms peri-, meaning "around" and -odons, meaning "tooth." Literally taken, it means that which is "around the tooth"...

:

1. gingival abscesses
2. periodontal abscesses
3. pericoronal abscesses
4. combined periodontal/endodontic abscesses
   Combined periodontic-endodontic lesions
   Combined periodontic-endodontic lesions are localized, circumscribed areas of bacterial infection originating from either dental pulp, periodontal tissues surrounding the involved tooth or teeth or both.-Source of infection:...
   
   

The fourth type will be dealt with in its own article because of its often distinct etiology

Etiology

Etiology is the study of causation, or origination. The word is derived from the Greek , aitiologia, "giving a reason for" ....

.

Gingival abscess

An abscess of the periodontal tissue is termed a gingival abscess when the localized, purulent infection involves only the soft gum tissue

Gingiva

The gingiva , or gums, consists of the mucosal tissue that lies over the mandible and maxilla inside the mouth.-General description:...

 near the marginal gingiva or the interdental papilla

Interdental papilla

The interdental papilla, also known as the gingival papilla, is the part of the gingiva that exists coronal to the free gingival margin on the buccal and lingual surfaces of the teeth....

.

Periodontal abscess

An abscess of the periodontal tissue is termed a periodontal abscess when the localized, purulent infection involves a greater dimension of the gum tissue, extending apically

Commonly used terms of relationship and comparison in dentistry

There are numerous commonly used terms of relationship and comparison that refer to different aspects of teeth and are frequently utilized in articles about dentistry...

 and adjacent to a periodontal pocket. Such a lesion may contribute to destruction of the periodontal ligament

Periodontal ligament

The periodontal fiber or periodontal ligament, commonly abbreviated as the PDL, is a group of specialized connective tissue fibers that essentially attach a tooth to the alveolar bone within which it sits...

 and alveolar bone.

Pericoronal abscess

An abscess of the periodontal tissue is termed a pericoronal abscess when the localized, purulent infection exists within the gum tissue surrounding the crown

Crown (tooth)

In dentistry, crown refers to the anatomical area of teeth, usually covered by enamel. The crown is usually visible in the mouth after developing below the gingiva and then erupting into place.-References:...

 of a partially or fully erupted tooth. This is also referred to as pericoronitis.

Clinical presentation

All three of these types of abscesses will present as red

Flushing (physiology)

For a person to flush is to become markedly red in the face and often other areas of the skin, from various physiological conditions. Flushing is generally distinguished, despite a close physiological relation between them, from blushing, which is milder, generally restricted to the face, cheeks or...

, swollen

Swelling (medical)

In medical parlance, swelling is the transient enlargement or protuberance in the body and may include tumors. According to cause, it may be congenital, traumatic, inflammatory, neoplastic or miscellaneous....

 lesions that are painful to touch

Hyperalgesia

Hyperalgesia is an increased sensitivity to pain, which may be caused by damage to nociceptors or peripheral nerves. Temporary increased sensitivity to pain also occurs as part of sickness behavior, the evolved response to infection.-Types:...

. They may possess a shiny surface representative of the stretching of the mucosa over the abscess. Pus may be present.

Treatment

Treatment for any of these lesions include incision and drainage

Incision and drainage

Incision and drainage and clinical lancing are minor surgical procedures to release pus or pressure built up under the skin, such as from an abscess, boil, or infected paranasal sinus...

, and perhaps inclusion of an antibiotic

Antibiotic

An antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...

regimen.