Straight Teeth in Less Time
Understanding Emergency Dental Pain And Abscess Situations
Lois Murray
If you have ever had a real dental emergency, then you likely know how serious a mouth ailment can be. And, while many types of issues may not seem like they are too serious, they may actually be emergency situations. In other words, you do not have to be bleeding profusely from the mouth or be experiencing an avulsion for an emergency to occur. For example, when a tooth suddenly throbs and will not stop, this is an emergency. Keep reading to learn about the problem and what a dentist will do to treat it.
What Is Happening With Sudden Pain?
If you are sitting calmly and suddenly feel a throb coming from one of your teeth, then you need to consider the things that may be causing the problem. Some obvious issues include abrupt temperature changes, large cavities, and the accidental striking of a tooth. If these sorts of things have not happened, then there is a good chance that you have an infection within your tooth. This is often referred to as a dental abscess.
Some signs of an abscess include intense and sudden pain. Pain that worsens when eating, drinking, or lying down is also a symptom, and so is pain that shoots down the neck or across the face.
Dental abscesses are considered emergencies, especially when pain is sudden, because this indicates that the infection is advanced enough that it has started to affect the dental root. Immediate treatment is needed or the infection will soon spread. Also, pain is very unlikely to get better unless the entire root is infected and degraded, and it takes some time for this to happen and the infection will still require treatment.
How Is The Issue Treated?
Dental infections that occur within the teeth are almost always treated with root canal therapy. Emergency therapy is often required in situations where you experience the sudden onset of pain. And, while some root canals can be completed in a single appointment, this may not be possible for emergency situations. Oftentimes, your dental professional will keep your tooth open with medication inside for at least a few days.
Once a root canal is performed, you can expect to feel a great deal of relief. Basically, the root is removed during the treatment, so you will not feel anything from the tooth. You will need to watch out for swelling around the tooth in case bacteria have spread to the surrounding tissues. Also, make sure to take your antibiotics and make your appointment for your follow-up treatment.
Reach out to your local dentist for more information about emergency dental care services.
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I had braces when I was a kid. Back then, you had to wear those metal wires and rubber bands for what seemed like forever. When I saw that my child’s teeth were going to be crooked like mine, I was dreading the years of braces and orthodontist appointments and limited diets that I saw stretching ahead of us. I was pleased to find out that braces today are very different from braces when I was a kid. They don’t need to be worn for nearly as long, and they aren’t as intrusive, either. My daughter got braces that can barely be seen, and she can remove them when she eats, so she doesn’t have to give up her favorite foods. I was so impressed that I started a blog to talk about modern day tooth straightening techniques. Braces have come a long way.