Swelling Near Tooth

Localized swelling around a tooth, referred to as localized intraoral edema, is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the soft tissues which are located around the periodontium — that structure which supports all of your teeth. The inflammation occurs primarily in one of two locations – either in the pulp chamber of the tooth (that central area filled with nerves and vessels) or along the periodontal ligament and pocket (the supporting structures and space that separate the tooth's root surface from the alveolar bone). In both instances, when bacteria enter an otherwise sterile environment, white blood cells will be dispatched by the body's immune response causing increased vascular permeability and localized suppurative accumulation (buildup of pus). If localized swelling is not treated, it has the potential to infiltrate into adjacent fascial spaces and elevate from being simply a focal dental problem to a general infectious risk throughout the entire head and neck region.