When you have a dental emergency, it is never a fun time for anyone. But if you know what to expect, you can make things a little bit easier on yourself. An infected tooth is one of the most painful dental emergencies, so it is a good idea to know what the dentist will do so you can be prepared for your dental appointment.
Disinfecting the Tooth
The first thing your dentist will need to do is to disinfect the tooth so they don’t spread infection around or create a bigger problem. If your infection is severe enough, they may need to put you on antibiotics before they will be able to do any work on your tooth. This is why it is so important to get your toothache taken care of as soon as possible. If swelling spreads to your face or beyond, it can indicate a serious problem that might actually impact your overall health. Disinfecting will help to decrease this problem and improve your teeth’s health.
Tooth Removal
Once the infection is under control, your dentist may need to remove the tooth. It can be difficult to remove all infection, and when it remains in your mouth the problem can recur. Your dentist will determine if it’s best to remove your tooth if it becomes infected. If you do have your tooth removed, you want to make sure you take care of it properly after the extraction. You should eat soft foods in the hours after a tooth extraction. This will help to prevent pain and keep you from biting your mouth.
Root Canal
If your infection isn’t too bad, you may be able to get away with a root canal instead of an extraction. In this procedure, your dentist will remove some of the root of your tooth and fill the area with dental safe materials. This procedure can be a little uncomfortable and you may experience pain afterwards, but it can help your dental health get back to normal. Make sure you follow your dentist’s instructions after the root canal.
Taking care of your teeth is so important, because it can profoundly impact your health in general. Make sure you care for your teeth so you can keep them as long as possible. If you think you might have an infection, talk to your dentist as soon as you can.
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