What Happens If You Don’t Treat a Tooth Infection?

A tooth infection in Oshawa is a common issue and can cause an unpleasant toothache. If you suspect you have an infected tooth, it’s always better to contact Margolian Dentistry quickly. Prompt treatment can quickly relieve discomfort and pain and, equally importantly, prevent the infection from spreading.

What Is a Tooth Infection?

A tooth can become infected when bacteria found in dental plaque penetrate the innermost parts of the tooth. Eventually, they reach the dental pulp right in the tooth’s centre. This is a collection of soft tissues, including the tooth nerve, as well as connective tissues and blood vessels.

When the pulp becomes inflamed and infected, it swells, creating pressure in the tooth and causing pain. The infection causes a buildup of pus called a dental abscess in Ajax.

What Happens If a Tooth Infection Isn’t Treated?

The bacteria that cause the infection can spread beyond the dental pulp, affecting nearby teeth and bone and potentially your overall health. It can even spread to your head and neck, causing potentially life-threatening problems.

A tooth infection cannot heal on its own without treatment. You may notice that the tooth no longer aches, but this is merely because the tooth nerve has died.

Signs of a Tooth Infection

Several signs can indicate you have an infected tooth, including:

• Toothache that may be present intermittently or all the time.
• Tooth pain when you bite or chew.
• Increased tooth sensitivity.
• A nasty taste and bad breath.
• Swollen gum around the tooth.
• A pimple on the gum nearest to the tooth where pus buildup is occurring.

Other signs can indicate that the infection is worsening and becoming more serious, requiring emergency dental care in Whitby. These can include:

• Facial swelling that may begin to affect your ability to swallow and breathe freely.
• Swollen lymph nodes in your neck.
• A fever.
• Feeling generally unwell.

If you recognize any of the symptoms, then please don’t delay. Call us right away or seek emergency dental care at the ER.

Diagnosing a Tooth Infection

When you visit our dental office, our dentist can gently examine the tooth, checking for signs of infection. A digital dental x-ray will quickly determine whether the tooth is infected and, if so, the extent to which it has spread. We can also use these diagnostic images to accurately plan your treatment.

Treating a Tooth Infection

Treating an infected tooth focuses on eliminating the bacteria causing the infection and, where possible, saving the tooth from extraction. If a dental abscess has developed, this must be drained, and you will likely need antibiotics to treat it properly.

Root Canal Therapy

Sometimes, if the infection is less severe, root canal therapy can save the tooth. During treatment, our dentist will carefully remove the infected pulp and clean out the pulp tissue that extends into your tooth roots.

Once cleaned, the tooth is disinfected and sealed. Sometimes we may place a temporary filling in the tooth to allow it to settle and ensure that all infection has been removed before restoring it permanently. Usually, a permanent restoration involves a dental crown that completely covers it.

Tooth Removal

Unfortunately, not every infected tooth can be saved. If the tooth is severely infected and damaged, we may need to remove it to allow the abscess to drain. You can rest assured that we never remove the tooth before assessing all other options, and if there is a chance we can save it, then we will discuss this with you fully.