A toothache is a special kind of pain that no one should have to suffer. For this reason, we provide emergency appointments at Chisholm Trail Smile Center—for both new and returning patients. If you (or a family member) have not been to the dentist for a number of years, it can be a challenge to work up the nerve to make an appointment, even if you are suffering. Rest assured that Dr. Matthew Bridges and our staff never judge patients for their oral health; we just want to help you get better and have the best oral care of your life! Let a toothache go on for too long, however, and you may wind up needing a dental extraction.
Dr. Matthew Bridges provides restorative dentistry and emergency appointments in our Duncan OK dental office. Call (580) 255-4880 today or make an appointment through our website.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore a Toothache
If there’s one ultimate truth in dentistry, it’s that toothaches don’t get better on their own. Headaches? Yes. Sprained ankles? Yes. Even a case of food poisoning will work itself out if you give the body the rest and care it needs. Cavities are another story. Once a hole has formed in your tooth enamel, the body cannot repair that hole. After the teeth cut through the gums, there’s no way to “regrow” enamel. It may take many months, or even years, but eventually a cavity is going to get bigger and become more painful. Eventually, if too much of the tooth has been damaged, we may not be able to save it, and the only treatment will be a dental extraction.
There are other conditions besides tooth decay that can result in a toothache, of course. Gum recession can cause the roots to become sensitive, for example. A deep crack or fracture can also cause pain. However, even if there’s no cavity present, that doesn’t mean you won’t develop one. Cracks make teeth more vulnerable to decay. When left unrestored, they will only worsen until the tooth becomes too damaged, structurally, to be saved.
The Best Way to Prevent a Dental Extraction
If you have a problem tooth, the best way to prevent losing it is to seek help as early as possible. The sooner you bring us the tooth, the greater the odds we’ll be able to restore it with a filling, root canal treatment, or dental crown. Avoiding the problem will never make it “go away.”
When a cavity extends into the enamel, we can remove the bacteria and decayed tooth matter conservatively and apply a filling to restore the tooth’s structure. If you are already feeling pain, however, there’s a good chance the decay has reached the dentin or the pulp chamber. When a cavity extends into the pulp chamber, a root canal becomes necessary to prevent the infection from traveling to the bloodstream. If much of the upper portion of the tooth has been damaged, a dental crown can be applied to replace and protect the part of the tooth you see above the gum line.
If You Need a Dental Extraction
No one wants to lose a permanent tooth, but there are several ways to replace a tooth if a dental extraction is needed. It’s really not the end of the world—and dental extractions are fast and comfortable at Chisholm Trail Smile Center. Bridgework and dental implants can replace a missing tooth, so your smile and chewing power can stay intact.
Bring Us Your Toothaches
If you or a family member has a painful tooth, contact our Duncan OK office to make an appointment. We provide gentle laser dentistry that makes treatment lass traumatic, and offer sedation option for patients with dental anxiety. Call (580) 255-4880 today or make an appointment through our website.
