Do you have a toothache? If so, you may have an urgent situation on your hands. Your toothache may be caused by several different situations, some of which are dental emergencies. Call us now to save your tooth if these critical situations apply to you.
Cracks
When your tooth hurts, does it happen after you chew food? If the pain is constant, does it get worse after chewing? If so, this pain may be caused by an emergency-level crack in the tooth.
Cracks in teeth form as a result of some kind of injury. Common examples include an impact on the face when playing sports, using the teeth as tools, and chewing ice or other hard substances. The pain you feel is likely the pressure of chewing causing the crack to widen or deepen. Persistent pain is also a sign that oral bacteria, which cause decay, have entered the tooth through this break in the enamel.
Cracked teeth can be restored with a crown. Root canal therapy may also be recommended if the crack allowed inner tooth decay to occur.
Internal Decay
Is the toothache persistent without changes in its intensity? If the pain does get worse temporarily, is that change a result of eating hot foods or drinking cold beverages?
If so, you may have an emergency on your hands: internal tooth decay.
This condition can be caused in one of two ways. Usually, a cavity on a tooth has grown large enough that it has moved past the enamel and dentin to reach the tooth’s inner pulp. But, if you recall, bacteria can cause the pulp to decay without creating a cavity first when the tooth has a crack in it.
Internal decay must be treated with root canal therapy. Unlike the enamel and dentin, the pulp at the center of the tooth does not have a good chance of surviving the infection. Remove the pulp entirely and sealing the internal chamber will save your tooth from extraction.
Exposed Roots
Do you only have pain when consuming hot or cold items? If so, this could be a sign of exposed teeth roots. While not an emergency, this condition is a sign of serious oral health problems.
Teeth roots become exposed when the gums recede from the teeth. This is the result of advanced periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease.
Periodontitis develops slowly, so it is not exactly an emergency. However, poor gum health is connected to several systemic health complications, in addition to causing tooth loss. You do need to visit our practice to halt its progression and coordinate more advanced care.
Dental Emergency? Call Now!
VanMeter & Williams Dentistry provides emergency dental services. We are easy to reach for any patients having toothaches in Dayton. Don’t wait; call us now.