The periodontal abscess: A review

A periodontal abscess is a localized, purulent infection involving a greater dimension of the gum tissue, extending apically and adjacent to a periodontal pocket. The periodontal abscess is the third most common dental emergency, representing 6-14%of all dental emergencies.The periodontal abscess can be classified depending on their course, number, location and etiological criteria. Etiology of the periodontal abscess have been either directly associated to periodontitis or to sites without prior existence of periodontitis.Local andsystemic predisposing factors make patient prone to the periodontal abscess. Microorganisms that colonize the periodontal abscess have been reported to be primarily gram-negative anaerobic rods. Common clinical features of the periodontal abscess are presence of generalized periodontal disease with pocketing and bone loss, usually associated with a vital tooth, overlying gingival erythematous, tender and swollen, pus discharge via periodontal pocket or sinus opening. The periodontal abscess should differentiated/ ruled out from similar conditions and lesions as gingival abscess,periapical abscess, perio-endo lesion, endo-perio lesion,cracked tooth syndromeand root fracture. Diagnosis of a periodontal abscess is usually based on the chief complaint and the history of the presenting illness, clinical findings and investigations.The management of the periodontal abscess can divided into three stages: immediate management, initial management and definitive therapy. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are extremely important for the management of a periodontal abscess, since this can lead to loss of involved tooth.In this review article, all aspects of the periodontal abscess were described.