Several years ago I decided to take a trip to the dentist after skipping multiple appointments for over 15 years. I truly had a dental anxiety and had a hard time getting over my fears. Thankfully, my dental visit went smoothly with only four cavities identified. What I did find from this dental visit was that there was a great deal of new information and technology that I had been missing out on. Laser-based technology and digital imaging are just a few examples. With this blog, I want you to understand that you can get over your fears and learn about this new technology like I did, so enjoy the information.
If you have started experiencing some tooth pain and notice that the discomfort radiates through the jaw, then you may have a dental infection. Infections can often be treated with root canal therapy. However, some people are simply scared of the treatment and wait some time before making a dental appointment. There are a few reasons why this is problematic. Keep reading to learn why.
An Extraction May Be Needed
When a tooth is suspected of being infected, a dental professional will X-ray the mouth to see where the infection is located and how severe it is. Most infections are ones that involve the upper portions of the tooth pulp. Simply put, dental infections produce significant pain and send most people to the dentist in a timely fashion.
If you do not make an appointment though, then the infection can spread through the entire pulp chamber and eat away at the pulp, nerve, and blood vessels feeding the tooth. In this situation, your dentist may be unable to completely clean out and treat the tooth. Risks of a spread infection, a failed root canal, and an irreparably damaged tooth may prompt the dentist to suggest an extraction instead.
Extractions are also likely if you ignore larger cavities along with infections. Large cavities can make the tooth more susceptible to cracks, and so can the root canal. Instead of leaving you with a brittle tooth, alternatives are discussed.
Infections Can Spread
Your teeth have openings along the roots that allow blood vessels to feed the internal tooth pulp. The openings are also where the nerves lie and they sit directly against the jaw bone. And if the inside portion of the tooth is infiltrated with bacteria and pus, the roots can serve as an opening for the release of bacteria and pus.
Once bacteria find a way out of the tooth, they can infect both the soft and hard tissues nearby. This means that gum infections can develop with the formation of abscesses and bone infections can develop too.
Treatment above and beyond the root canal is likely necessary when infections start to spread. Oral antibiotics are usually provided and if the infection is serious, multiple medications and IV drugs may be needed. Steroids and broad-spectrum antibiotics may be necessary in some cases.
If the infection sits within the bone, then there is a chance that a portion of the tissue will die. Surgical removal, debridement, and the placement of grafted material are all possibilities.
If you want to know more about root canals and why you should seek one out as soon as you notice the symptoms of a dental infection, speak with a general dentist or an endodontist.
Share7 January 2019
