There are three stages to a gum abscess and they can be differentiated from one another based on the severity of the swelling.
The infection originates as a localized swelling of the gums affecting a single tooth. However when it is left untreated, it starts to progress and spread with the swelling increasing in size.
Gum abscess stages:
Localized gum swelling around one tooth.
Generalized gum swelling around multiple teeth.
Gum swelling with facial swelling.
The progression of this dental abscess involves greater swelling with each subsequent stage. Consequently the treatment for it also becomes more complex and costly.
Stage 1 - Localized swelling
The first stage of a gum abscess is localized gum swelling around the affected tooth. The infection is limited to a single tooth because it is the beginning of the abscess. Essentially it starts with one tooth.
Signs and symptoms:
Swollen gums but limited to a single tooth
Red and poofy looking
Bleeds easily upon touching or brushing
Constant mild dull tooth pain
The abscess is fairly mild and small in size at this stage but when left untreated, it will start growing and involving more teeth.
Stage 2 - Generalized swelling
The second stage of a gum abscess is generalized swelling which affects multiple teeth. The infection has spread from the affected tooth to the adjacent teeth. The size of the abscess is significantly larger than the first stage.
Signs and symptoms:
Swollen gums around multiple teeth that are adjacent
Very red and poofy looking gingiva
Bleeds very easily upon touching or brushing
Constant moderate dull pain
The longer you leave this stage of the abscess untreated, the more the swelling will spread. At first it may only affect 2-3 teeth but it can grow to involve the entire quadrant of teeth.
Stage 3 - Facial swelling
The third stage of a gum abscess is facial swelling in addition to generalized gum swelling. The abscess has spread beyond just the gums and the teeth at this stage because it now affects your face.
Signs and symptoms:
Gums swollen around multiple teeth
Very red and poofy looking gingiva
Bleeds very easily upon touching or brushing
Severe pain
Face is swollen and looks disfiguring
This condition can look incredibly disfiguring because the face can be swollen to the size of a golf ball or bigger. Typically once patients have this, it becomes a dental emergency where they'll drop everything that they're doing to get it treated.
Treatment
The treatment for each stage of a gum abscess will differ since the extent and severity of the infection are different. Of course the more advanced the disease is, the more complex and expensive the treatment will be.
Treatments for a gum abscess:
Scaling and root planing. Commonly known as a deep cleaning, the root surfaces below the gum line will be cleaned. That is in addition to what is above the gum line.
Gingival curettage. Instead of cleaning the teeth, the insides of the gums will be scraped to remove granulation tissue and infection.
Incision and drainage. For severe swelling, full drainage of the abscess is needed. An incision into the swelling followed by manually draining it.
Antibiotics. Oral antibiotics in pill form along with a rinse may be prescribed. Their purpose is to help clear out the infection and reduce the chances of recurrence.
In case you were wondering, no you shouldn't try to drain a gum abscess at home.
Which treatment do I need?
The more severe your condition is, the more involved the treatment will be. We've created a decision tree as a guide so you have an approximate idea of what to expect.
In the case for gum infections, you may find it interesting that more treatments are added on as the condition advances. The procedure doesn't simply change as you move from one stage to the next, it simply gets added on to the list.
Treatment for each stage of a gum infection:
Stage 1 - scaling and root planing, gingival curettage
Stage 2 - scaling and root planing, gingival curettage, incision and drainage
Stage 3 - scaling and root planing, gingival curettage, incision and drainage, antibiotics
What you can take away from this is that you should get it treated as soon as possible. Less procedures will be involved which also means it'll be less expensive.
Takeaway
A gum abscess will progress through three distinct stages when left untreated. With each stage the infection grows bigger and the swelling worsens. Treatment for each stage also becomes more complex and more costly.
You should see your dentist as soon as you suspect a gum infection. You can potentially minimize the pain, severity, and cost of treatment if you get it treated as soon as possible.
