Have you ever winced from a sip of hot coffee or a bite of ice cream? If so, you’re not alone. Many people experience tooth sensitivity, but did you know it could signal something more serious like a tooth infection? To safeguard your smile, we recommend booking an appointment with our emergency dentist in Shelby Township, MI.
In the meantime, here are the signs and .
What is a Tooth Infection?
A tooth infection (also called an abscess) is a pocket of pus trapped within your tooth. If left untreated, the infection will spread to the tips of your tooth roots. At this point, your only option would be an or extraction.
You may be at higher risk for an abscessed tooth if you neglect oral hygiene. Once a cavity is deep enough to penetrate the inner chamber of your tooth, you’ll develop an abscess. This means that the live tissue (pulp) inside your tooth is infected.
What are the Signs of an Abscessed Tooth?
A tooth abscess is painful. In fact, your teeth may be throbbing and keeping you awake. We always recommend our patients come to us before they’re in unbearable pain. That way, we’re able to catch issues when they’re small and at their most treatable.
Signs you have an infected tooth include:
- Severe toothache
- Prolonged tooth sensitivity
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pain when biting down
- Fever
- Swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck or jaw
- Swollen face or cheeks
Recognize any of the above symptoms? If so, schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist. The longer you ignore an abscessed tooth, the more you jeopardize your health. Call our dental practice today to request urgent dental care.
Don’t think that the abscess is gone if the pain subsides. While you can manage some of the pain from home, our dentist will need to remove the infected dental pulp. He’ll then have to reseal the tooth and cover it with a crown. If our dentist can’t salvage the tooth, he’ll extract it before the infection spreads to your jaw.
Can a Tooth Infection Go Away on Its Own?
No, a tooth infection will not go away on its own. Instead, it’ll only get worse until the abscess bursts. When this happens, the infection will spread to your jawbone, as well as the rest of your head and neck. You may even develop sepsis, which is life-threatening.
Do NOT ignore the symptoms of a tooth infection! If you suspect you have an abscessed tooth, you’ll need to call our emergency dentist as soon as possible. The sooner you call, the more likely we’ll be able to save your tooth. For example, Dr. Nazarian may be able to treat a small abscess with a root canal. Otherwise, you’ll need an emergency tooth extraction.
What Can I Do for an Infected Tooth?
First, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in Shelby Township, MI. We’re always happy to squeeze you in if you’re having a dental emergency. Our team can give you advice on managing your symptoms until it’s time to come in.
We don’t recommend going to the ER for most dental emergencies. In general, the most an ER doctor will be able to do for you is prescribe pain relievers and antibiotics. While these medications may provide temporary relief, they won’t cure the source of your pain. Only a dentist can fill cavities, extract teeth, or perform any other type of dental work.
Schedule Emergency Dental Care
Dr. Ara Nazarian is an experienced . He also offers a range of restorative dental services, including dental implants. To schedule an emergency appointment, please call the Premier Dental Center at (248) 457-0500. For non-emergencies, you may fill out our online contact form and a member of our team will reach out to you soon to set up an appointment.
This blog post has been updated.