Your maxillary sinuses are very close upstairs neighbors of your top teeth. In some areas, only a sliver of tissue separates the upper tooth roots from the bottom of the sinus cavity. It’s no wonder that when there is pain in that general area, the particular location can be hard to discover.

Allergies, infections, and the common cold can irritate sinus tissues. When sinus tissues become swollen and infected, it can influence the teeth.

In extreme cases, swollen sinus tissues can actually move the teeth slightly, changing the bite. The reverse scenario can also occur. The infection surrounding an abscessed tooth can easily travel to the sinus cavity.

An abscess is an infected pocket of pus in a tooth and/or the surrounding bone and tissue. The most common type of oral abscess begins in the pulp of the tooth and is typically caused by tooth decay.

When an abscess is small it may go unnoticed, but it will eventually bring about pain.

An abscess can cause entire tooth loss and the infection can also destroy jawbone.

If an abscess damages the tooth until it is beyond saving and requires extraction, a dental implant is one replacement option – but only if there is enough bone to anchor the implant.

How can you tell an abscessed tooth from a sinus infection?
Sinus pain typically manifests itself as a dull, continuous pain while the pain from an abscessed tooth increases in intensity. If you tap on an abscessed tooth, you will possibly feel a sharp zap of pain.

You have several sinus cavities, and pain can emanate from any or all of them, so if you have an infection in more than one sinus cavity, you may have pain behind the nose and eyes. As mentioned previously, it’s possible to be in a world of hurt with both issues—an abscessed tooth and a sinus infection.

An abscessed tooth should never be ignored. Call Dr. Bill Dorfman, DDS – Century City Aesthetic Dentistry your premier general and cosmetic dentistry practice in the Los Angeles area if you have pain in your upper jaw and lower sinus area. Our team can provide guidance so you’ll know how to proceed. Don’t hesitate to call us today!

Contact Dr. Bill Dorfman, DDS – Century City Aesthetic Dentistry:

310-277-5678

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2080 Century Park E Ste 1601
Los Angeles, California
90067