Tooth infections are hard to ignore since they tend to cause a constant toothache that can potentially keep you from your normal daily activities, including sleeping at night. However, if you feel compelled to wait and see if your tooth begins to feel better, it's important to note that tooth infections do not resolve independently. Instead, an untreated infection will continue to worsen until it reaches the point where your tooth is no longer salvageable.
So it's important to take action right away if you or a loved one is suffering from a tooth infection in order to get back on the path to wellness and preserve your tooth.
How Do I Know If My Tooth Is Infected?
An abscessed or infected tooth will accompany some of these signs and symptoms:
- Facial pain and swelling
- Tooth sensitivity to temperature
- A white bump or blister on the gum tissue surrounding the tooth
- Pain when biting or chewing
- Darkening of the tooth
If you're experiencing severe pain that doesn't subside with over-the-counter medication, it may be an indicator of an abscessed or infected tooth, and you should contact your Wilimington emergency dentist right away for prompt care.
How Does a Dentist Treat an Infected Tooth?
In order to save your natural tooth, your dentist will need to remove the infected tissue from inside the tooth that is irritating your nerves and causing your pain. Root canal treatment is the best way to eliminate a tooth infection and save your natural tooth.
Our dentists will start by numbing the area around the infected tooth, which immediately provides you with relief from your pain. Next, they'll carefully remove the infection from your tooth and then seal it carefully with a temporary filling, which will give it time to heal.
When your tooth has completely healed, you'll return to our dental office to have one of our dentists place a permanent crown for you. The crown protects your natural tooth, which becomes more brittle after root canal treatment.
Don't hesitate to contact our team at (302) 475-9220 if you suspect that you or a loved one may need root canal treatment in Wilmington.