PERIODONTAL ABSCESS
DR.SHRADDHA KODE
Abscess can be defined as the
localised collection of purulent
material collected in a cavity caused
by destruction of tissues
DEFINITION:
Periodontal abscess is a localised
purulent infection in the tissues
adjacent to periodontal pocket
that may lead to the destruction
of periodontal ligament and
alveolar bone.
It is also called as the lateral
periodontal abscess or parietal
abscess
Periodontal abscess is the third
most prevalent emergency
infection after acute alveolar
abscess (14-25%) and
pericoronitis (10-11%)
Formed as a result of rapidly
growing bacteria within a
periodontal pocket leading to
abscess formation
Periodontal abscess can lead to
complications due to bacteremia
that may cause infection in
distant location
Based on the location:
Gingival Abscess – Localized painful
swelling affecting only the marginal and
interdental gingiva. Occurs due to
impaction of foreign objects
Periodontal Abscess – Usually affects
deeper periodontal structures including
deep pockets, furcations and vertical
osseous defects
Pericoronal abscess – Inflammation of
the soft tissue associated with the
crown of partially erupted tooth
CLASSIFICATION:
Based on the course of the lesion:
Acute periodontal abscess – sudden
onset of pain on biting and deep
throbbing pain, gingiva appears red,
swollen and tender, as the disease
progresses – pus discharge from
gingival crevice, lymph node
enlargement
Chronic periodontal abscess –
Infection is of prolonged duration and
abscess develops slowly, involved tooth
– mobile and tender, pus discharge or
sinus in the overlying mucosa, pain of
low intensity
Based on the number:
Single periodontal abscess –
associated with local factors – plaque,
calculus, anatomic factors
Multiple periodontal abscess –
Associated with uncontrolled diabetes
mellitus, medically compromised
patients, in patients with untreated
periodontitis after systemic antibiotic
therapy
Based on the cause:
Periodontitis related abscess - Results
when the acute infection originates
from biofilm present in a deepened
periodontal pocket
Non-periodontitis related abscess -
Results when the acute infection
originates from other local source like
foreign body impaction or alteration
in root integrity
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
PERIODONTAL
ABSCESS
PERIAPICAL
ABSCESS
Associated with
pre-existing
periodontal
pockets
Associated with
deep restoration,
caries or tooth
wear
Pulp test - Vital Pulp test – Non-
vital
Localised swelling
on the lateral
aspect of the
tooth
Localised swelling
in the apical area
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
PERIODONTAL
ABSCESS
GINGIVAL
ABSCESS
Involves
supporting
periodontal
structures
Confined to
interdental or
marginal gingiva
Radiograph – bone
loss
Acute
inflammatory
response to the
forcing of foreign
material into the
gingiva. No bone
Association with tortuous pockets,
cul-de-sac which eventually become
isolated - represents a period of
active bone destruction
The marginal closure of the
periodontal pocket may lead to an
extension of the infection into the
surrounding periodontal tissues due
to the pressure of the suppuration
inside the closed pocket
CAUSE:
Changes in the composition of the
microflora, bacterial virulence or in
host defenses could also make the
pocket lumen inefficient to drain the
increased suppuration
It may also occur as an acute
exacerbation of an untreated
periodontitis, during periodontal
therapy, in refractory periodontitis
cases or during periodontal maintenance
Post-scaling periodontal abscess –
dislodegement of calculus or inadequate
scaling
Post-surgery abscess – incomplete
removal of subgingival calculus or
presence of foreign substance
ex.sutures, periodontal dressing
Post-antibiotic abscess – systemic
antibiotics without subgingival
debridement may cause an abscess due
to change in the subgingival microbiota
leading to superinfection and massive
inflammation
Impaction of foreign bodies – piece
of dental floss, popcorn kernel,
fishbone, toothpick
Perforation of the tooth wall by an
endodontic instrument
Infection of lateral cysts
WHAT CAN BE THE OTHER
CAUSES?
Bacterial entry – first event to initiate
periodontal abscess
Inflammatory cells are then attracted
by the chemotactic factors released by
the bacteria
The concomitant inflammatory reaction
leads to destruction of the connective
tissues, the encapsulation of the
bacterial infection and the production
of pus
PATHOGENESIS:
most frequent type of bacteria
were gram-negative anaerobic
rods and gram-positive
facultative cocci
Throbbing pain in acute
periodontal abscess and dull
gnawing pain in chronic
Edema and redness
Involved tooth – sensitive to
lateral percussion
Increased mobility
Increased probing depth
CLINICAL FEATURES:
Suppuration – spontaneous or on
putting lateral pressure
Draining sinus
Radiographic – bone loss in
chronic cases
Systemic involvement – fever
malaise, lymph node enlargement
The purpose for the treatment of acute
periodontal abscess:
Alleviate pain, establish drainage and to
control the spread of infection
Protocol:
Incision and drainage – Closed and open
approach
Scaling and root planing
Debridement of soft tissue wall
Antibiotics
Last resort : Extraction
TREATMENT:
a
For the closed approach:
Anesthesia
Flat instrument /probe – carefully
introduce into the pocket
Distend the pocket wall for drainage
Further drain and gently curettage the
mass of tissue internally
For the open approach:
Stab incision through the most
fluctuant part of the swelling, extending
to an area just apical to the abscess
Curette the granulomatous tissue
internally
External aspect of the abscess is gently
pushed to drain the remaining pus
Irrigation
Approximate to wound margin
The purpose for the treatment of
chronic periodontal abscess:
To eliminate the remaining calculus and to
establish drainage
Mainly where the resolution can be
achieved only by surgical means
(vertical bone loss and deep pockets)
Gingivectomy
Periodontal flap procedures
For the treatment of gingival abscess:
Elimination of the foreign object through
careful debridement
Drainage through the sulcus with a probe
or light scaling
For the treatment of pericoronal
abscess:
Debridement of plaque and food debris
under the pericoronal flap
Establish drainage
Irrigation using Povidone iodine solution
Acute phase controlled: Decision
regarding operculectomy or
Periodontal abscess is a relatively
common condition in patients with
moderate to deep pockets
Important to differentiate
periodontal abscess from periapical
and gingival abscess
Important to treat the underlying
cause for multiple abscesses
Drainage of the abscess and
removal of the underlying cause is
required to ensure healing
CONCLUSION:
Periodontal abscess

Periodontal abscess

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Abscess can bedefined as the localised collection of purulent material collected in a cavity caused by destruction of tissues DEFINITION: Periodontal abscess is a localised purulent infection in the tissues adjacent to periodontal pocket that may lead to the destruction of periodontal ligament and alveolar bone.
  • 3.
    It is alsocalled as the lateral periodontal abscess or parietal abscess Periodontal abscess is the third most prevalent emergency infection after acute alveolar abscess (14-25%) and pericoronitis (10-11%)
  • 4.
    Formed as aresult of rapidly growing bacteria within a periodontal pocket leading to abscess formation Periodontal abscess can lead to complications due to bacteremia that may cause infection in distant location
  • 5.
    Based on thelocation: Gingival Abscess – Localized painful swelling affecting only the marginal and interdental gingiva. Occurs due to impaction of foreign objects Periodontal Abscess – Usually affects deeper periodontal structures including deep pockets, furcations and vertical osseous defects Pericoronal abscess – Inflammation of the soft tissue associated with the crown of partially erupted tooth CLASSIFICATION:
  • 7.
    Based on thecourse of the lesion: Acute periodontal abscess – sudden onset of pain on biting and deep throbbing pain, gingiva appears red, swollen and tender, as the disease progresses – pus discharge from gingival crevice, lymph node enlargement Chronic periodontal abscess – Infection is of prolonged duration and abscess develops slowly, involved tooth – mobile and tender, pus discharge or sinus in the overlying mucosa, pain of low intensity
  • 8.
    Based on thenumber: Single periodontal abscess – associated with local factors – plaque, calculus, anatomic factors Multiple periodontal abscess – Associated with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, medically compromised patients, in patients with untreated periodontitis after systemic antibiotic therapy
  • 10.
    Based on thecause: Periodontitis related abscess - Results when the acute infection originates from biofilm present in a deepened periodontal pocket Non-periodontitis related abscess - Results when the acute infection originates from other local source like foreign body impaction or alteration in root integrity
  • 11.
    IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER PERIODONTAL ABSCESS PERIAPICAL ABSCESS Associatedwith pre-existing periodontal pockets Associated with deep restoration, caries or tooth wear Pulp test - Vital Pulp test – Non- vital Localised swelling on the lateral aspect of the tooth Localised swelling in the apical area
  • 12.
    IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER PERIODONTAL ABSCESS GINGIVAL ABSCESS Involves supporting periodontal structures Confinedto interdental or marginal gingiva Radiograph – bone loss Acute inflammatory response to the forcing of foreign material into the gingiva. No bone
  • 13.
    Association with tortuouspockets, cul-de-sac which eventually become isolated - represents a period of active bone destruction The marginal closure of the periodontal pocket may lead to an extension of the infection into the surrounding periodontal tissues due to the pressure of the suppuration inside the closed pocket CAUSE:
  • 14.
    Changes in thecomposition of the microflora, bacterial virulence or in host defenses could also make the pocket lumen inefficient to drain the increased suppuration It may also occur as an acute exacerbation of an untreated periodontitis, during periodontal therapy, in refractory periodontitis cases or during periodontal maintenance
  • 15.
    Post-scaling periodontal abscess– dislodegement of calculus or inadequate scaling Post-surgery abscess – incomplete removal of subgingival calculus or presence of foreign substance ex.sutures, periodontal dressing Post-antibiotic abscess – systemic antibiotics without subgingival debridement may cause an abscess due to change in the subgingival microbiota leading to superinfection and massive inflammation
  • 16.
    Impaction of foreignbodies – piece of dental floss, popcorn kernel, fishbone, toothpick Perforation of the tooth wall by an endodontic instrument Infection of lateral cysts WHAT CAN BE THE OTHER CAUSES?
  • 17.
    Bacterial entry –first event to initiate periodontal abscess Inflammatory cells are then attracted by the chemotactic factors released by the bacteria The concomitant inflammatory reaction leads to destruction of the connective tissues, the encapsulation of the bacterial infection and the production of pus PATHOGENESIS:
  • 18.
    most frequent typeof bacteria were gram-negative anaerobic rods and gram-positive facultative cocci
  • 19.
    Throbbing pain inacute periodontal abscess and dull gnawing pain in chronic Edema and redness Involved tooth – sensitive to lateral percussion Increased mobility Increased probing depth CLINICAL FEATURES:
  • 20.
    Suppuration – spontaneousor on putting lateral pressure Draining sinus Radiographic – bone loss in chronic cases Systemic involvement – fever malaise, lymph node enlargement
  • 21.
    The purpose forthe treatment of acute periodontal abscess: Alleviate pain, establish drainage and to control the spread of infection Protocol: Incision and drainage – Closed and open approach Scaling and root planing Debridement of soft tissue wall Antibiotics Last resort : Extraction TREATMENT:
  • 22.
    a For the closedapproach: Anesthesia Flat instrument /probe – carefully introduce into the pocket Distend the pocket wall for drainage Further drain and gently curettage the mass of tissue internally
  • 23.
    For the openapproach: Stab incision through the most fluctuant part of the swelling, extending to an area just apical to the abscess Curette the granulomatous tissue internally External aspect of the abscess is gently pushed to drain the remaining pus Irrigation Approximate to wound margin
  • 24.
    The purpose forthe treatment of chronic periodontal abscess: To eliminate the remaining calculus and to establish drainage Mainly where the resolution can be achieved only by surgical means (vertical bone loss and deep pockets) Gingivectomy Periodontal flap procedures
  • 25.
    For the treatmentof gingival abscess: Elimination of the foreign object through careful debridement Drainage through the sulcus with a probe or light scaling For the treatment of pericoronal abscess: Debridement of plaque and food debris under the pericoronal flap Establish drainage Irrigation using Povidone iodine solution Acute phase controlled: Decision regarding operculectomy or
  • 26.
    Periodontal abscess isa relatively common condition in patients with moderate to deep pockets Important to differentiate periodontal abscess from periapical and gingival abscess Important to treat the underlying cause for multiple abscesses Drainage of the abscess and removal of the underlying cause is required to ensure healing CONCLUSION: