You're out enjoying some ice cream with your family when you feel that familiar zing in your tooth. You don't worry too much because it always goes away; however, without a checkup, the day will probably come when the zing doesn't go away and actually turns into ongoing pain.
In the dental world, prevention truly is the key to optimal dental health because so many tooth concerns can be avoided with excellent home care and routine dental checkups. For example, if you had your tooth checked when you first felt that zing, you might've learned that you had a small area of decay in it. We can typically treat tooth decay with a simple tooth-colored filling that doesn't detract from your smile's appearance.
On the other hand, if the sensitivity to temperature goes unexamined, the tooth decay is allowed to progress. It will make its way further into the tooth until it reaches the nerve or pulp, where it can result in a painful infection. Now, root canal treatment is required to eliminate your tooth infection, alleviate your pain, and preserve your natural tooth structure.
The moral of the story is that you should never ignore dental pain, no matter how small and trivial it may seem at first. Let's take a look at some other examples of what dental pain might be trying to indicate.
Common Dental Problems That May or May Not Start with Pain
Did you know that many common dental concerns, like tooth decay and gum disease, don't cause a lot of pain at first? That's why visiting your dentist every six months for preventive teeth cleanings and checkups is one of the best ways to protect your smile, oral health, and overall well-being. Your Charlotte dentist can spot tooth concerns early, before they become more significant problems in the future.
Oral cancer is another concern that doesn't cause much pain early on and is also difficult to spot on your own. This is another concern we screen you for during your routine exam. When we spot oral cancer early it improves your prognosis and gives you a better chance for a more successful recovery.
If you are experiencing a severe and constant toothache, it is likely that your tooth is infected. Tooth infections don't resolve without treatment, so it's essential to contact your emergency dentist as soon as possible to avoid further damage from the tooth infection.
A cracked or damaged tooth may or may not cause discomfort. Even if it isn't causing immediate pain, it's important to seek treatment to ensure that the damage doesn't impact neighboring teeth.
The Risks of Ignoring Tooth Pain
When you're not proactive about treating tooth pain, it can lead to problems you may not be aware of.
- Infection Spreads — A tooth infection left untreated will eventually move to neighboring teeth and could even reach more critical areas of your body, like your brain.
- Tooth Loss — Without prompt emergency treatment, an infected tooth may become unsalvageable, resulting in tooth loss.
- Jawbone Deterioration — An infection can reach your jawbone, and could cause deterioration and bone loss.
- Extensive Treatment Concerns —Ignoring tooth pain could result in tooth loss, which may mean you need to replace your tooth in the future, leading to more complicated and more costly treatment.
- Impact on Overall Health — When a tooth infection spreads, it can negatively impact your overall health and well-being.
What to Do If You’re Experiencing Tooth Pain
It's important to contact your dentist if you're experiencing tooth pain. Don't wait for the pain to go away on its own because it may lead to more costly and complicated treatment needs and prolong your pain.
At Gentry Dental, we prioritize emergency patients. Contact our team at (704) 554-1007 for prompt emergency dental care and guidance over the phone on what to do until Dr. Gentry can see you. If your emergency occurs outside of our normal business hours, we provide instructions over the phone on how to reach our emergency contact.
Here are some helpful tips on handling common tooth emergencies until you can see your emergency dentist in Charlotte, NC:
- Broken or chipped teeth — For broken teeth, gather the pieces, if possible, and bring them with you when you see your dentist. Use over-the-counter pain relief, such as ibuprofen, to manage the discomfort until you can see your dentist.
- Knocked-out tooth — Time is of the essence in this case. Carefully transport your tooth back in its socket, if possible, or use milk or saliva to keep it moist.
- Lost or broken restorations — Bring any remnants of the restoration, or the actual restoration, such as a crown, with you and use ibuprofen to manage any pain.
- Toothaches — Use ibuprofen to manage pain at home. Use a cold compress to manage swelling and warm salt water rinses to soothe the compromised tooth.