What is the definition or description of: dental abscess?

Infection: A dental abscess happens from 3 main causes. 1) trauma 2) decay 3) periodontal disease. The first two are easier to treat. When a tooth has an abscess with a periodontal component the outcomes can be successful, but may need multiple procedures.

Enclosed pus: A tooth abscess or root abscess is pus enclosed in the tissues of the jaw bone at the tip of an infected tooth.

A type of infection: A tooth abscess is a sac of pus (infected material) in a tooth or the gums. There are two types of tooth abscesses: 1) abscess of the pulp (blood and nerve supply inside the tooth) 2) abscess between the tooth and gum.

Tooth infection: An abscess is a bacterial infection. When associated with a tooth, it means that bacteria have invaded the nerve inside the tooth or maybe have invaded the bone and gum surrounding the tooth...Or maybe both. A dentist can determine which it is and recommend treatment.

Infected tooth: A dental abscess is an infection that originates from a tooth. Specifically the pulp of the tooth (the inner part where nerves and blood vessels are). It can be caused by bacterial invasion from a cavity, crack, or fracture, but it can also be a result of trauma. Dental abscesses are best treated by a root canal, or extraction of the tooth.

Periapical lesion: When the dental pulp becomes infected, the toxic products go thru the root end into the jaw bones and the body tries to wall off the infection. These inflammatory lesions in the jaw bones then can fill up w/ puss, forming an abscess.

Bacteria mass: It is a mass of bacteria found in the dental-alveolar complex. A periapical abscess is an abscess found at the bottom of a tooth root. This usually originates in the tooth following the development of necrotic pulp tissue.