Author: Galaxy Dental Care

You’ve had a tooth aching for days. Now your cheek looks puffy. And there is also a weird taste in your mouth that keeps coming back. You’re not sure what’s happening, but something feels off.

This collection of signs points to a dental abscess. It’s a pocket of pus forming inside or around a tooth. Dental Abscess is caused by a bacterial infection. And it won’t go away by itself, no matter how many painkillers you take.

At Galaxy Dental Care, we’ve been treating dental abscess cases across 9 Hyderabad branches since 2003. Our team includes Dr. Sudhakar Rao Malapati, MDS, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, along with endodontists who handle root infections every day. Over 100,000 patients have trusted us with this kind of problem.

This blog covers what dental abscess symptoms feel like, what causes them, and how treatment works.

What Do Dental Abscess Symptoms Feel Like?

A strong throbbing tooth pain that won’t quit is the most common sign for dental abscess. It’s not the mild ache you get after eating something cold. It’s constant. 

But pain isn’t always the first thing people notice. Some patients come in with a swollen cheek, others notice a strange taste in their mouth for days before the pain even starts. A dental abscess shows up differently in different people.

Pain signs worth paying attention to:

• Chewing on that side feels sharp, almost electric
• The ache spreads toward your ear or jaw or neck
• Painkillers barely touch it
• It gets worse when you lie down or bend over

Some signs are easy to miss:

• A bitter or salty taste that keeps returning
• Bad breath that doesn’t improve with brushing
• A tooth that feels slightly loose
• Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers well after the food is gone
• Low fever, tiredness, or just feeling off

One thing worth knowing: if the pain suddenly disappears without any treatment, don’t assume you’re fine. The infection is still there. It’s still spreading, thus visit the best dental clinic in Hyderabad to get it checked.

What Causes a Dental Abscess?

Bacteria getting inside the tooth or gum starts the scope for dental abscess. The question is how bacteria goes in. For that we need to understand the dental abscess causes:

• Tooth Decay That Wasn’t Treated

A small cavity starts on the outer surface of the tooth. Left alone, it works its way through the enamel, then through the softer layer underneath, and eventually reaches the pulp. The pulp is the soft tissue at the center of every tooth, where the nerve and blood supply live. Once bacteria reach the pulp, infection sets in fast.

• A Crack The Patient Didn’t Notice

Teeth crack more easily than people think. Biting something hard, grinding at night, or an old knock can create a hairline crack. You won’t feel it. But bacteria find it. 

• Gum Disease That Kept Going

Gum disease creates deep pockets between the gum and the tooth. Bacteria collect in those pockets. When the infection there gets serious enough, it forms a periodontal abscess, which is an abscess in the gum tissue rather than inside the tooth root. 

• Old Dental Work That’s Started To Fail

Fillings and crowns don’t last forever. When a filling chip or a crown lifts slightly at the edge, bacteria get back in. The tooth looks fine from the outside. Inside, the process has started again.

• A Past Injury The Patient Forgot About

A hard knock to the tooth, even years ago, can damage the pulp without cracking or discolouring the tooth visibly. The pulp dies slowly. Dead pulp is easy for bacteria to infect.

How Is a Dental Abscess Treated?

The first thing to know: antibiotics alone won’t fix dental abscess. They can slow the spread, and they can help you feel a little better. But they can’t reach inside a tooth and remove infected tissue. The real dental abscess treatment means getting to the source.

• The tooth gets examined and an X-ray is taken. For anything complex, the clinic uses an OPG scan. 
• If there’s visible swelling or a gum boil, the dentist makes a small cut to let the pus out. Most patients say the relief is immediate. 
• Root canal treatment is done when the tooth can still be saved. An endodontist at the best dental clinic in Manikonda, remove the infected pulp from inside the tooth, cleans each canal, and seals it shut. 
• A crown goes on afterward to protect it. You keep your natural tooth.
• Extraction is the right call when the damage is too deep or the bone around the tooth is too far gone. 
• After draining and treating the source, a short course of antibiotics may follow if there’s evidence the infection spread into nearby tissue. 

Everything is under local anaesthesia. The area is numbed before anything begins.

Visit Galaxy Dental Care for Dental Abscess Treatment in Hyderabad.

If your tooth is painful, your cheek is swollen, or you’ve had a bad taste in your mouth for more than a day or two, don’t wait on it. The longer a dental abscess sits, the harder it is to save the tooth.

Galaxy Dental Care has 9 branches across Hyderabad, open every day of the week from 9 AM to 9 PM. Our team includes endodontists for root canal treatment and Dr. Sudhakar Rao Malapati, MDS, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, for cases that need surgical management. We’ve also received 2 FAMDENT awards for clinical standards.

If you’re in Secunderabad, visit the best dental clinic in AS Rao Nagar near Radhika Theatre, above SBI Bank and start with a proper examination and X-ray before any treatment is planned. Call +91 8686676781 or +91 8686616148 to book your appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a dental abscess go away on its own?

It won’t. Pain fading doesn’t mean healing. When the pain stops suddenly without treatment, the nerve has usually died. The infection is still sitting inside the tooth, still spreading. A dentist needs to drain it and treat the cause. Waiting only makes it harder to save the tooth.

How do I know if it’s a dental abscess and not just a normal toothache?

Normal toothaches come and go. They’re often triggered by specific foods or temperatures. Abscess pain is different. It throbs. It’s constant. It doesn’t ease up between meals. Add swelling, a bad taste, or a bump on the gum near the painful tooth, and you’re almost certainly looking at an abscess. Get it checked.

Will I need a root canal?

Maybe, maybe not. Root canal is the preferred option when the tooth can still be saved. If the damage is severe or the bone around the tooth is gone, extraction is the safer choice. Your dentist can’t tell you which one until they’ve seen the X-ray. Both options fix the infection.

What about just taking antibiotics?

Antibiotics slow things down but don’t fix the tooth. The infected tissue inside stays there. When the course ends, the infection picks back up. You’ll need dental treatment regardless. The antibiotics just buy a little time.

Which branch should I go to for urgent tooth pain in Hyderabad?

Any of the 9 Galaxy Dental Care branches can help. The Manikonda branch on Narsingi, Puppalaguda Main Road works well for south Hyderabad patients. The AS Rao Nagar branch near Radhika Theatre covers Secunderabad and nearby areas. Call +91 8686676781 or +91 8686616148 and we’ll get you to the nearest branch.

You went in for a dental check-up. The dentist looked at your teeth, asked a few questions, and then said: “You’ll need an OPG Dental X-Ray before we can begin treatment.” And now you want to know: What is an OPG? Is it safe? Why can’t a regular X-ray do the job?

An OPG dental X-ray, also called an Orthopantomogram, is a single wide scan that captures every tooth, both jawbones, and the surrounding bone structure in one image. It’s done in under a minute. And it gives your dentist information that an individual X-ray simply can’t show.

At Galaxy Dental Care, OPG imaging is built into the treatment planning process at all 9 dental clinic in Hyderabad. With 15,000+ implant cases completed since 2003, the team knows what happens when treatment is planned without proper imaging. 

With such dental experience this blog explains what an OPG shows, how the scan works, and whether it’s safe for you or not.

What Is An OPG Dental X-Ray?

An OPG is a panoramic (wide-angle) dental X-ray. It takes one flat picture of your entire mouth from the outside.

Think of it this way. A regular dental X-ray is like looking at one room of a house. An OPG is like looking at the full floor plan. Same building, completely different view.

The OPG machine present at the best dental clinic in Kompally doesn’t go inside your mouth. You stand or sit still while the arm of the machine rotates slowly around your head. The whole scan finishes in about 12 to 20 seconds.

OPG vs Regular Dental X-Ray: What’s the Difference?

Both types of X-rays are useful. Your dentist picks the right one based on what they need to see.

What Does an OPG Dental X-Ray Actually Show?

OPG  is one scan, with a lot of information. Here’s are some OPG dental X-Ray benefits, that shows up on an OPG image:

• All Your Teeth : Upper and lower, including any that haven’t come through the gum yet.
• The Jawbone : How dense it is, whether there’s any bone loss, and how the upper and lower jaws line up.
• Jaw Joints, called the TMJ : The TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is the hinge connecting your jaw to your skull; problems here cause clicking, pain, or locking of the jaw.
• Wisdom Teeth : Whether they’re impacted (stuck inside the bone) or growing at an angle toward other teeth.
• Cysts or Growths : Unusual tissue in the jaw that doesn’t show up during a normal mouth check.
• Alveolar Bone : The bone ridge that actually holds your teeth in place; when this bone shrinks, it’s a sign of gum disease.

No regular X-ray covers all of this together. That’s exactly why the OPG exists.

How Is an OPG Dental X-Ray Done? Step by Step

An OPG dental X-Ray process is quick and easy. The full machine rotation takes 12-20 seconds and the whole process is done under 5 steps.

• Step 1: Remove Accessories : Take off glasses, earrings, hair pins, neck chains, and any removable dental plates. Metal objects show up on the image and block the view.
• Step 2: Position at the Machine : You’ll either stand or sit at the OPG unit. Your chin rests on a small support. You’ll gently bite down on a thin plastic tab called a bite block to keep your head in the right position.
• Step 3: Stay Still:  The machine arm moves around your head on its own. You don’t move at all. The full rotation takes 12 to 20 seconds.
• Step 4: Image is Created : The machine captures multiple images as it rotates. These are combined automatically into one panoramic picture. 
• Step 5: Dentist Reviews the Image:  Your dentist or the radiographer at the best dental clinic in Hyderabad checks the scan for sharpness. If a retake is needed because of movement, it happens right away. 

The machine never touches your face, so nothing enters your mouth during the scan.

Is an OPG Dental X-Ray Safe?

Yes, according to guidance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a panoramic dental X-ray exposes a patient to around 0.01 millisieverts (mSv) of radiation. It is roughly what you’d be exposed to from natural background radiation over one to two days just from the air, soil, and environment around you.

Digital OPG machines at any of the best dental hospital in Manikonda produce less radiation than older film-based ones. The image is captured in a single fast pass, and repeat shots are rarely needed.

A few specific situations to be aware of:

• Children: OPG is safe for children when there’s a clinical reason. Paediatric dentists at Galaxy Dental Care use it to monitor developing teeth, check jaw growth, and plan early orthodontic care when needed.
• Pregnant Patients: Tell your dentist if you’re pregnant. Dental X-rays are generally avoided in the first trimester unless there’s an urgent clinical need. 

The scan is non-invasive. There are no needles, no dye, and no contact with your face.

Get Your OPG Dental X-Ray Done at Galaxy Dental Care.

If you are searching for a dental hospital near me, Galaxy Dental Care approach is diagnosis first, treatment second. No plan is made before the dentist understands what’s actually there.

The clinical team includes implantologists, orthodontists, endodontists, periodontists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Each specialist reads OPG findings within the context of their treatment area. What an implantologist checks on the scan is different from what an orthodontist looks for. 

Across all 9 Hyderabad branches including the dental hospital in AS Rao Nagar,  OPG imaging supports treatment planning for implants, braces, oral surgery, wisdom tooth removal, and gum care.

Galaxy Dental Care has also completed 15,000+ implant procedures. Each one started with proper imaging. To book an appointment you can make a call to: +91 8686676781 

Branches are open Monday to Sunday, 9 AM to 9 PM, across Hyderabad.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does OPG stand for in dentistry? 

OPG stands for Orthopantomogram. It’s a type of panoramic dental X-ray that captures all your teeth, both jaws, and the surrounding bone in one image. It’s widely used before implants, braces, and oral surgery to help dentists plan treatment safely.

Does an OPG X-ray hurt? 

Not at all. The scan is painless and non-invasive. You bite down gently on a small plastic tab and stay still for about 12 to 20 seconds. The machine rotates around your head without touching you.

How long does the whole OPG process take? 

The scan itself takes 12 to 20 seconds. With preparation and image review, most patients are done in under 10 minutes. Digital results are ready almost immediately after the scan.

Can my child get an OPG X-ray? 

Yes, when it’s clinically needed. The radiation dose is very low roughly equal to one to two days of natural background radiation. Paediatric dentists use OPG to monitor how children’s teeth and jaws are developing, especially before planning braces.

What’s the difference between an OPG and a CBCT scan? 

An OPG gives a 2D panoramic view of the mouth — it shows what’s there and how things are positioned. A CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) scan is a 3D scan that gives detailed measurements of bone volume, density, and nerve location. CBCT is typically used for complex implant planning or surgical cases where exact measurements matter.

CBCT in dental diagnosis is a 3D scanning technology that shows your teeth, jawbone, and nerves in depth and detail. A regular X-ray gives a flat image. CBCT scan provides a 3D model to your dentist to measure on screen. 

This difference helps when planning implants, root canals, wisdom tooth removal, or other complex cases. Galaxy Dental Care has the best dentist in Hyderabad, and provides CBCT 3D imaging at all 9 branches. No separate imaging centre visit needed. Scan done, reviewed, and explained at the same appointment.

Most patients only hear about CBCT when a dentist recommends one. If that has happened to you, this guide explains what it does, why it is needed over a regular X-ray, and what to expect on the day.

What Is CBCT and How Is It Different From a Regular X-Ray?

CBCT is a 40 sec scan that gives a 3D image of your teeth, jawbone, and surrounding structures. A regular dental X-ray gives a flat 2D picture. OPG (panoramic X-ray) gives a wide flat image of the full mouth. Neither shows depth, nerve location, or bone volume accurately enough for surgical planning.

The CBCT machine looks like a large camera that rotates around your head once. You sit or stand inside it. The scan itself takes 10 to 40 seconds. No needle. No preparation. The machine captures hundreds of images in that single rotation, and the software builds them into a 3D model the dentist views on screen.

What Cbct Shows That A Regular X-Ray Misses:

• Exact depth and volume of jawbone at an implant site
• Nerve pathways so they are not damaged in surgery
• Number and shape of all root canals in a tooth
• Hidden infections below the bone surface
• Exact position of an impacted wisdom tooth near nerves
• Early cysts or lesions invisible on 2D imaging

At a dental clinic in Hyderabad, the dentist chooses between OPG and CBCT based on what the treatment requires. OPG for general overview. CBCT when measurements matter.

What Role Does CBCT Play in Getting the Diagnosis Right?

A dentist treating a patient without a CBCT is sometimes working from incomplete information. Here is what that means in practice.

• Implant Planning without CBCT. An X-ray shows bone is present. It does not show how deep, how wide, or how close the nerve runs underneath. An implant placed too short misses the bone it needs. CBCT gives the exact measurements before the first incision is made.
• Root Canal Treatment. Upper molar teeth routinely have 3 canals. Some have 4 or even 5. A 2D X-ray often does not show the extra canal hiding behind the others. Leaving one canal untreated is the most common reason a root canal fails and the patient returns with the same pain months later. CBCT shows all the canals clearly.
• Wisdom Tooth Removal. The nerve that controls sensation in the lower lip runs directly below the lower wisdom teeth in many patients. An experienced surgeon still needs to see exactly how close the tooth root is to that nerve. CBCT provides that information.

Same diagnosis, better information. Better information leads to better treatment outcomes.

When Does Your Dentist Recommend a CBCT Scan?

Your dentist at a dental clinic in Kompally or any Galaxy Dental Care branch will not recommend CBCT for every patient. It is ordered when standard imaging is not enough for safe, accurate treatment planning.

Six situations where CBCT is routinely needed:

• Dental implant placement 
• Root canal on a complex tooth 
• Impacted wisdom tooth removal 
• Orthodontic treatment planning 
• Jaw joint pain or TMJ problems 
• Unexplained pain, swelling, or suspected cyst 

Getting a CBCT recommendation does not mean something is seriously wrong. It means your dentist wants accurate information before starting treatment.

Is a CBCT Scan Safe : What About Radiation?

CBCT is safe. The radiation dose from a dental CBCT is much lower than a medical CT scan. According to the American Association of Endodontists, a dental CBCT exposes a patient to a radiation dose similar to a few days of natural background radiation, the radiation that exists everywhere in the environment.

At the best dental clinic in Manikonda and all Galaxy Dental Care branches, every scan follows standard safety measures:

• Lead apron for the patient
• Targeted beam as only the treatment area is exposed
• Low-dose settings wherever possible

Tell Your Dentist Before a CBCT If:

• You are pregnant : CBCT is usually avoided unless medically urgent
• The patient is a young child : lower-dose options are considered first

For everyone else, dental CBCT is safe, fast, and carries minimal risk.

CBCT Scan Cost 

CBCT scan price in Hyderabad ranges from ₹2,000 to ₹6,000. A small-area scan for a single implant site or one tooth costs less than a full jaw scan. The size of the imaging area and the purpose of the scan determine the cost.

What is typically included:

• The scan
• 3D images reviewed by your dentist
• A report or updated treatment plan

Book Your CBCT Scan at Galaxy Dental Care, Hyderabad

Galaxy Dental Care has treated 1,00,000+ patients over 23 years. 15,000+ dental implants placed. We are a FAMDENT Award winning clinic with 25+ full-time specialist dentists across Kondapur, Kukatpally, Banjara Hills, Chandanagar, Nallagandla, AS Rao Nagar, Kompally, Manikonda, and Vanasthalipuram. OPG and CBCT imaging are available at every branch, thus no external referral, no travelling to a separate imaging centre.

Call us at +91 8686676781 to book your appointment now. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between CBCT and OPG in dentistry?

OPG is a flat panoramic X-ray showing all teeth and bone in one wide image. It is useful for a general overview. CBCT is a 3D scan used when the dentist needs precise measurements, say bone depth, nerve location, or the full anatomy of a root. 

How long does a CBCT scan take?

The scan takes 10 to 40 seconds. The machine rotates once around the head. Including set-up and the dentist reviewing the images, the full appointment is 20 to 30 minutes.

Is a CBCT scan safe for everyone?

Safe for most adults. Radiation is low, comparable to a few days of natural background radiation. Pregnant women and young children may need an alternative. Tell the dentist before the scan if either applies.

How much does a CBCT scan cost in Hyderabad?

Between ₹2,000 and ₹6,000. The cost depends on how much of the jaw is scanned. Single-tooth or implant-site scans are at the lower end. Full jaw scans are at the higher end. Galaxy Dental Care has CBCT at all 9 branches.

What can CBCT detect that a normal X-ray cannot?

Bone depth and volume, exact nerve position, the number and shape of all root canals, hidden infections below bone level, early cysts, and the precise location of impacted teeth. None of these are reliably visible on a standard 2D dental X-ray.

You saw a photo of yourself and something felt off. One side of your jaw sits differently. One cheek looks lower than the other. You’ve noticed it before, but a recent picture made it impossible to ignore.

There are several asymmetrical face causes. Some are habit-based, like chewing on one side or sleeping on the same side every night. Others come from an uneven bite, a missing tooth, or a jaw joint problem. The cause matters because exercises help with some of these, and do nothing for others.

Our MDS dentists at Galaxy Dental Care, one of the trusted dental clinic in Hyderabad with branches in Kondapur, Vanasthalipuram, AS Rao Nagar, Kukatpally and other locations, have treated hundreds of patients whose facial asymmetry traced back to a dental cause that no exercise routine was going to fix.

Read this blog, written from that clinical experience, to understand what’s causing your asymmetry and what actually helps.

What Causes an Asymmetrical Face?

An asymmetrical face means one side looks or sits differently from the other. This can be in the jaw, the cheeks, the brows, or the overall shape. Natural causes come from how you were born and how you age. While dental causes come from bite problems, missing teeth, or jaw joint issues. 3 main type of causes are:

Natural Causes (Genetics and Ageing): Your bones grew the way they grew. As you get older, you lose fat and muscle tone. This type gets more noticeable in your 30s and 40s. It can’t be fixed with exercises or dental treatment.

Habit-Based Causes: Build up slowly and each of these is fixable through exercises and habit changes.

• Sleeping on one side
• Chewing on one side only
• Chin resting on hand
• Head tilt from desk posture
• Jaw clenching from stress

Dental Causes: They are the most missed and the most treatable causes. When your upper and lower teeth don’t meet evenly, your jaw muscles work harder on one side or a jaw joint problem (called TMJ disorder) shifts the jaw to one side. These don’t respond to face exercises. They respond to treatment at a dental clinic in Hyderabad.

5 Facial Exercises That Can Help Improve Face Balance

Face exercises help the muscle side of asymmetry. They build tone on the weaker side, and reduce puffiness on the side that’s overworked. Done daily, results in muscle tone show up in 6 to 8 weeks.

1. Jaw Resistance Press:  Put your fist under your chin. Push your jaw down against your hand. Hold 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times. Good for people who chew on one side or clench their teeth.
2. Cheek Puff and Shift : Fill your mouth with air. Push the air from cheek to cheek, holding 3 seconds on each side. Repeat 10 times.This works your cheek muscles.
3.  Tongue Press Hold : Press your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth. Hold 10 seconds. Repeat 10 times. This strengthens the inner jaw muscles that keep the jaw in position.
4. Brow Resistance Lift : Place two fingers across your forehead. Try to raise your eyebrows against the pressure from your fingers. Hold 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times. It’s the most useful exercise for uneven brow height.
5. Neck Side Stretch : Tilt your head to one side until you feel a pull in the side of your neck. Hold 10 seconds. Switch sides. Repeat 3 times each. One session takes about 5 minutes. Do it once a day. Give it 6 to 8 weeks before judging results.

The Important Limit: These exercises help with muscle-related asymmetry. If the cause is a dental issue (bite problems, missing teeth, jaw joint disorder), face exercises won’t change what’s happening, visit the best dental hospital in Vanasthalipuram.

Get Your Face Balance Assessed at Galaxy Dental Care, Hyderabad.

Asymmetrical face treatment at Galaxy Dental Care starts with an OPG full-mouth X-ray and CBCT 3D scan. This shows the bite, the jaw structure, and the bone level before anything is recommended.

How to fix facial asymmetry caused by dental issues depends on the cause:

• Bite misalignment is treated with braces or clear aligners (including Invisalign) at the best dental clinic near me, that gradually move teeth so both sides of the jaw work evenly. Takes 12 to 24 months.
• A missing tooth needs a dental implant. The implant replaces the tooth and keeps the bone underneath from shrinking. 
• A jaw joint problem (TMJ disorder) is managed with a bite guard, dentist-guided jaw exercises, or orthodontic correction.
• Mild smile asymmetry can be improved through dental reshaping or smile design. No braces needed. Done in a few visits.

One patient shared: “I got my clear aligners from Galaxy Dental, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. The dentists explained everything clearly, and the treatment was smooth.”

Galaxy Dental Care covers everything from diagnosis to asymmetrical face treatment under one roof, open 7 days a week. And all our branches including the best dental clinic in AS Rao Nagar is an official Invisalign provider and have OPG and CBCT scans in-house. Call +91 8686676781.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Normal to Have an Asymmetrical Face?

Yes. About 28.7% of people notice facial asymmetry themselves, and clinical scans show the number is above 50% when doctors actually measure it. Most asymmetry is so slight that other people don’t see it. A face that’s perfectly the same on both sides is the rare exception, not the rule.

Can Facial Exercises Really Fix Asymmetry? 

They can fix the muscle side: uneven tone from one-sided chewing, jaw clenching, or sleep habits. Given 6 to 8 weeks of daily practice, results show up in muscle tone and face shape. They won’t fix bite misalignment, a missing tooth, or structural dental causes. For those, a dentist needs to look at the cause first.

What Dental Treatments Fix Facial Asymmetry?

Braces or clear aligners for bite problems, dental implants for missing teeth causing bone loss, bite guards and orthodontics for jaw joint issues, and smile design for mild visual imbalance. Galaxy Dental Care offers all of these across 9 Hyderabad locations, open 7 days a week.

How Long Does Treatment Take to Fix Facial Asymmetry? 

Bite correction with braces or aligners takes 12 to 24 months. Implants need 3 to 6 months of healing after placement. Minor smile corrections can be done in one or two visits. A proper assessment at Galaxy Dental gives a timeline specific to the cause.

Can an Asymmetrical Face Get Worse With Age? 

Yes. As you get older, you lose bone density, fat, and muscle tone. It doesn’t happen evenly on both sides. A missing tooth speeds this up because bone loss on that side is faster without a tooth root to hold it. Getting dental causes treated early stops the asymmetry from getting more noticeable over time.