Emergency Dentistry: Potentially Life-Threatening Tooth Issues

Emergency dentistry provides the urgent treatments that you need when you need them. This can end up saving your life because untreated dental issues like infections can be life-threatening. Emergency dentistry also gets you relief from any pain and discomfort caused by the oral problem that you are struggling with.

Life-threatening issues that emergency dentistry addresses

Wondering what life-threatening issues quick dental care can treat? Here is a list of common dental issues that can be deadly if left untreated. 

1. Tooth infection

Teeth infections are caused by oral bacteria getting to the soft tissues in the pulp chamber. This area is sealed off from the rest of a tooth, but it can be opened up by damage to the tooth as a result of decay or trauma. The pulp chamber contains the nerves, connective tissues and blood vessels. These soft tissues can be irritated by acids in the mouth, leading to toothaches. That is often the precursor for an infection. If the toothache is left unaddressed, infection will follow.

An infection in the mouth might not seem like a huge deal, but it is. It does not take much for the infection to spread to the brain, given the proximity between the two areas. An infection in the brain is a serious health condition, and there is no guarantee of successful recovery. An oral infection can also spread to other parts of the body, like the bloodstream or heart. An infection in these areas can be just as deadly as one in the brain.

Dentists treat infected teeth by performing a root canal. This involves drilling a hole into the tooth and using special tools to remove the soft tissues in the pulp chamber. Medication might be applied to the area to kill off any bacteria left, and the tooth is sealed with a material called gutta-percha. Teeth that have been restored with a root canal are often covered with crowns to protect them against further damage. In some cases, a dentist might recommend extracting the tooth instead if it is one of the wisdom teeth or there is a risk of the infection spreading to other areas.

2. Abscess

An abscess is an infection that occurs in a tooth’s root or close to it. It manifests as a pocket of pus filled with bacteria. An abscess is usually accompanied by severe toothaches, and there is always a risk of the infection spreading to other areas, as is the case with other types of oral infections.

Dentists treat abscessed teeth by prescribing antibiotics to help kill off the infection, draining the pus pocket, applying medication to it and performing a root canal. These treatments are often combined when treating an abscess.

Take your health seriously and get emergency care

Dealing with a dental emergency? Call or visit our Spokane clinic to get the treatment you need immediately. Our staff is waiting for your arrival.

Request an appointment here: https://brookemcloningerdds.com or call Brooke M. Cloninger, D.D.S. at (509) 319-2152 for an appointment in our Spokane office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Emergency Dentist in Spokane, WA.