While less common than an endodontic abscess, a periodontal abscess is the third most frequent dental emergency requiring immediate intervention due to their rapid onset of pain.
A periodontal abscess is described as a localized accumulation of pus within the gingival wall of a periodontal pocket. More prevalent in patients with previous periodontal pockets, it develops rapidly, destroying periodontal tissues and depicting clear symptoms. If the tooth is associated with multiple abscesses, it may have a “hopeless prognosis.”
Two etiologies explain the development of this entity: periodontitis-related and non-periodontitis-related. Abscesses of periodontitis-related origin usually appear as an exacerbation of the untreated periodontal disease or during periodontal treatment. Abscesses of non-periodontitis-related origin frequently develop due to the impaction of foreign objects, such as a piece of dental floss, or abnormalities of the root anatomy.
The treatment of periodontal abscesses includes drainage, mechanical debridement, and mouth rinses, reserving antibiotic therapy for some cases.
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