Tooth Infection

If you experience severe tooth pain, you might be suffering from a tooth infection known as an abscess. This dental problem will not go away on its own – in fact, it will only worsen without professional care. At Downtown Dental in Los Angeles, CA, Dr. Don Mungcal and his dental team are prepared to manage your dental emergency quickly and gently to free you from pain and restore your oral health.

Common Signs of a Tooth Infection

Sometimes, you can bite down on a certain food at a certain temperature and it sends a shockwave of pain through your mouth. This might be a one-time occurrence, but if the discomfort continues it could be the sign of a bigger problem. You could have a serious tooth infection if any of the following symptoms occur at any time:

• Severe pain while chewing
• Ongoing sensitivity to heat or cold
• Extreme pain when putting pressure on the tooth
• Tooth or gum discoloration
• Tender or swollen gums

If you have acute or lingering tooth pain, contact your Los Angeles emergency dentist for an appointment and treatment. Severe tooth decay can damage the pulp of your tooth along with the enamel, and these conditions cannot go untreated.

Symptoms of a Dental Abscess

Untreated tooth decay can turn into a dental abscess. When foreign particles make their way into a tooth through a cavity or deteriorating dental work, they keep digging their way inside to wreak havoc deep within. Here is what you need to know about a tooth infection:

• A dental abscess begins in the tooth pulp and travels to its root.
• Bacteria causes an abscess and makes the tooth infection multiply and travel.
• A swollen, pus-filled area – the abscess – forms along the gumline into a red, noticeable bump.
• Should the bacteria-filled abscess rupture, the infection will enter your system and threaten your overall well-being by spreading to the jaw, neck, or head.
• Early physical symptoms of an abscess are fever, chills, sensitivity, or bad breath.

Emergency Dentistry for Tooth Infections

If the dental problem you are suffering from is a tooth abscess, your dentist will drain the abscess and provide a course of antibiotics so your mouth can heal. Then, the damage can be corrected. Dental treatments for an abscess or infection might include:

• Root canal therapy: The bacteria is cleaned out of the tooth roots and the canals are filled to prevent further infection. The tooth is capped with a dental crown to protect it from future danger.
• Tooth-colored filling: Small- to medium-sized tooth decay can typically be corrected with a tooth-colored filling that looks natural.
• Tooth extraction: If a tooth is too compromised to fix and the pain is too great, your dentist’s last resort will be a tooth extraction.

Get Emergency Dentistry in Los Angeles for an Infected Tooth Root

Every tooth is its own little system and contains a delicate combination of nerves, soft tissues, and blood vessels. This combination makes up the dental pulp of each tooth. If a tooth is compromised and the enamel is breached, bacteria can make its way into the depths of your tooth and cause a tooth infection. You don’t have to suffer with this pain and discomfort.

Your mouth tells you when something is wrong, so don’t avoid the dentist because you fear the diagnosis and treatment. Getting dental care right away stops the problem from growing and developing into an even more serious condition. Contact Downtown Dental in Los Angeles right away for an emergency dental appointment.