Ignoring the symptoms of a dental abscess can put your oral and general health at risk. Fortunately, root canals performed by your Kalamazoo, MI, dentist, Dr. Mark Richardson will help you avoid tooth loss and protect your health.
Why dental abscesses are so dangerous
Abscesses are bacterial infections that infect the soft pulp inside your tooth. If you have an abscess, you may notice pain that increases when you chew or press on the tooth. Pain may worsen when you eat or drink hot, cold, or sweet foods and beverages. You may experience mild to moderate pain that comes and goes or severe, throbbing pain that keeps you up at night. Other symptoms of an abscess can include a bump on your gums, fever, bad breath, facial swelling, swollen lymph nodes, and red or swollen gums.
Without treatment, dental abscesses can lead to:
- Heart, Lung, or Brain Infections: The infection can enter your bloodstream and travel to any organ in your body. An untreated abscess can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, and even death.
- Breathing Difficulties: Swelling on the bottom of the mouth can occur due to the infection. Swollen tissue can block the airway in your throat, making it difficult or impossible to breathe.
- Tooth Loss: The infection may also affect the bone that holds your tooth in place. If this happens, you could lose your tooth.
- Sinus Infection: If an upper molar is abscessed, bacteria can spread from the roots of the tooth to your sinuses, causing an infection.
How your dentist can help you if you have an abscess
Abscesses are treated with antibiotics to kill the bacteria and you will need to get a root canal in Kalamazoo, MI, to remove the tooth pulp. Your dentist removes the damaged pulp tissue and cleans out the root canals. The empty tooth is then filled and covered with a custom-made dental crown to strengthen and protect it.
Luckily, your tooth will function normally without the pulp. In fact, your pain will subside and your tooth won't feel any different.
Root canals in Kalamazoo, MI, prevent tooth loss and end your pain. Call Dr. Richardson at (269) 343-6907 if you think that you might have a dental abscess.