What is the Difference Between Periapical Abscess and Periodontal Abscess

The key difference between periapical abscess and periodontal abscess is that periapical abscess is a type of abscess that occurs in the tooth root, including the tooth pulp of the mouth, while the periodontal abscess is a type of abscess that occurs in the gums of the mouth.

An abscess in the mouth is the body’s response to fighting an infection in the mouth. It creates a pocket of pus, which can cause pain and sensitivity when it swells up. If the infection becomes more serious, you may experience fever and swelling. There are two different types of abscesses in the mouth: periapical abscess and periodontal abscess.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Periapical Abscess  
3. What is Periodontal Abscess
4. Similarities – Periapical Abscess and Periodontal Abscess
5. Periapical Abscess vs Periodontal Abscess in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Periapical Abscess vs Periodontal Abscess

What is Periapical Abscess?

A periapical abscess is a type of abscess in the mouth that occurs around the root of a tooth. It’s a pocket of infection that develops at the tip of the tooth’s root. It happens when bacteria invade the tooth pulp. This infection usually occurs through a crack or cavity. Ultimately, the infection spreads to the root of the tooth, which causes inflammation and swelling. The typical symptoms of this condition may include pain when chewing or biting, sensitivity to heat and cold, severe throbbing toothache, pain that radiates to the ear, neck, or jaw, fever, halitosis, swollen lymph nodes in the neck or under the jaw, swelling in the face and difficulty in breathing or swallowing. The risk factors for periapical abscess include poor oral hygiene, dry mouth (xerostomia) and having lots of sugary foods and drinks in the diet. The complications that often result from this condition include infection spreading to the head, neck, and blood infection (sepsis).

A periapical abscess is diagnosed through dental visual examination, X-ray, and CT scan. Furthermore, treatment options for a periapical abscess may include antibiotics, incision and draining, root canal therapy, and tooth extraction.

What is Periodontal Abscess?

A periodontal abscess is a type of abscess in the mouth that forms in the gums. It’s a pocket of infection that develops between the tooth and the gum tissue. It occurs when bacteria invade the space between the teeth and gums. The symptoms of this condition may include toothache, teeth sensitivity, halitosis, bad taste, swollen lymph nodes in the neck or jaw, pain while chewing, pus formation, fever, and loose teeth. The risk factors involved in the periodontal abscess are bruxism, teeth damaged by injury or trauma, broken or damaged restorations such as dental fillings, crowns or bridges, poor oral hygiene, and high sugar diet. If left untreated, periodontal abscesses may cause complications like destruction of the ligaments and soft tissues around teeth, bone loss in the jaw, tooth loss, sepsis, heart inflammation, pneumonia, and brain abscess.

A periodontal abscess can be diagnosed by reviewing physical symptoms, doing a periodontal examination, and a dental X-ray. Furthermore, treatment options for a periodontal abscess may include periodontal abscess drainage, scaling, root planing (deep dental cleaning), gum surgery, antibiotics, and tooth extraction.

What are the Similarities Between Periapical Abscess and Periodontal Abscess?

• Periapical abscess and periodontal abscess are two different types of abscesses formed in the mouth.
• They are mainly due to bacterial infections.
• Both abscesses may have similar symptoms, such as toothache, teeth sensitivity, bad breath, etc.
• They may cause complications.
• Both abscesses can be diagnosed through dental examination and dental imaging tests.
• They are treated through antibiotics, root canal therapy, and tooth extraction.

What is the Difference Between Periapical Abscess and Periodontal Abscess?

A periapical abscess occurs in the tooth pulp of the mouth, while periodontal abscess occurs in the gums of the mouth. Thus, this is the key difference between periapical abscess and periodontal abscess. Furthermore, the risk factors for periapical abscess include poor oral hygiene, dry mouth (xerostomia) and having lots of sugary foods and drinks in the diet. On the other hand, the risk factors for periodontal abscess include bruxism, teeth damaged by injury or trauma, broken or damaged restorations such as dental fillings, crowns or bridges, poor oral hygiene and a high-sugar diet.

The below infographic presents the differences between periapical abscess and periodontal abscess in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Periapical Abscess vs Periodontal Abscess

Mouth abscesses are usually due to bacterial infections. Periapical abscess and periodontal abscess are two different types of abscesses seen in the mouth. Both these abscesses may have similar symptoms, such as toothache, teeth sensitivity, and bad breath. Periapical abscess occurs in the tooth pulp of the mouth, while periodontal abscess occurs in the gums of the mouth. So, this is the key difference between periapical abscess and periodontal abscess.

Reference:

1. “What’s a Periodontal Abscess and How Do You Treat It?” Cleveland Clinic.
2. Hennessy, Bernard J. “Periapical Abscess – Mouth and Dental Disorders.” MSD Manual Consumer Version.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Periapical abscess up” By Michele Gardini – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Perio-endo lesion” By Lesion – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia