Can Your Dental Infection Lead to Tooth Loss?

You probably don’t expect to end up with a cavity, let alone a dental infection, right? At the first signs of a dental infection, you need to see your dentist as soon as possible. How do you know if you have a dental infection? Dr. Tyler Myers, general dentist in Columbus, helps patient identify the common symptoms of an abscessed tooth before it’s too late.

 

Common Symptoms

At first, you may not notice any abnormal signs. One of the most common symptoms to look out for is tooth sensitivity. You may feel a slight discomfort when your tooth comes in contact with cold, hot, sweet or acidic food and beverages. If a tooth’s enamel breaks down, plaque bacteria starts to penetrate the first layer, creating small cavities that can lead to the inner tooth. Once bacteria delve deeper into the tooth, the tooth’s root can become infected, followed by noticeable symptoms:

If you go the dentist and he/she tells you have an infection, there is a treatment that can still save your tooth—root canal therapy.

 

Root Canal Therapy 

It used to be known as the alternative treatment to an extraction; nowadays, it’s a common procedure. To treat an infection, your general dentist in Columbus, Dr. Myers, will need to drill a hole in the tooth, extracting the infected nerve. Debris and bacteria will also be cleaned out. After the procedure is complete and you finish your rounds of antibiotics (to combat a reoccurring infection), your tooth will be sealed.

 

An extraction is only used if the infection is too far along.  

 

Tooth Loss Solution

Tooth loss is the result of an extraction. To stop a severe infection from spreading, the problem needs to be removed in its entirety. If you wonder how to replace just one tooth, consider dental implants in Columbus as your restorative procedure.

 

If you need to schedule a consultation with Dr. Myers, call our office at (706) 507-0606.