Kelly
Dear Kelly,
It sounds like you don’t want to bother your dentist unnecessarily. However, when it comes to any type of tooth pain, it’s a dental emergency. Don’t hesitate to call your dentist in cases like that. If he’s a decent caregiver, he’d much rather you call him than lose a tooth.
Pain is generally a sign of an infection. The fact that the side of your face is starting to swell indicates it’s spreading. Dental infections can become life-threatening quickly. Think about how close your jaw is to your heart and brain. You definitely don’t want the infection to spread that far.
If you have an infection, your dentist will do a root canal treatment and possibly a porcelain crown.
When Your Tooth Can’t Be Saved
Sometimes, when you don’t get to the dentist soon enough, there is no way to save your tooth. In that case, your two best choices in replacing it are a dental implant or a dental bridge.
A Dental Implant
This uses a titanium implant to stand in place of your tooth root. Then, after healing, a dental crown is placed on top. Getting a tooth implant is the top of the line treatment and just like having a healthy, natural tooth back in your mouth. However, there are times when a dental bridge makes more sense.
A Dental Bridge
This suspends a false tooth between two crowns. It’s less expensive than an implant and doesn’t require surgery. However, it does require crowning the two adjacent teeth. If they’re in need of dental work that makes sense. But, if they don’t, you’d be grinding down healthy teeth.
Time is of the essence in these cases, so please take care of this sooner rather than later.
This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Warren Krutchick.
