Abstract:

BACKGROUND Periodontal abscesses are one of the most common dental emergencies. They are essential as patients seek emergency care and the dentist’s actions must be instantaneous. For the dentists to do their job quickly and efficiently in these emergency cases diagnosed with periodontal abscess, it is necessary that they are familiar in detail with its methods of diagnosis, differential diagnoses, prognosis, treatment, complications and prevention.

AIM The aim of this study is to summarize the available information in the published literature regarding diagnosis, differential diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, complications and prevention.

REVIEW RESULTS Immediate action in patients diagnosed with periodontal abscess is extremely important. For this purpose, the dentist must know in detail all the methods for making a rapid and accurate diagnosis. They should be able to differentiate periodontal abscess from other periodontal and endodontic diseases, as well as fractura dentis. One of the most important characteristics of periodontal abscesses is that they worsen the prognosis of the affected tooth extremely quickly. For this reason, urgent, prompt curative action is needed to prevent further complications. Last but not least in importance is the knowledge of preventive measures – educating patients about good personal oral hygiene, discussing the influence of diabetes mellitus, smoking, etc.

CONCLUSION We may sum up by saying that periodontal abscesses are extremely serious because they require immediate medical attention, the affected tooth’s prognosis is declining, and there is a chance that the infection will spread quickly. Dentists need to be extremely knowledgeable about the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, complications, and prevention of periodontal abscesses because they happen rather frequently in clinical practice.

Keywords: Periodontitis, Gingivitis, Periodontal abscess, Abscess, Drainage