Is Severe Toothache a Red Flag for an Advanced Cavity?
It is possible to experience toothache after dental trauma or when a large particle is stuck between teeth. However, the most common cause of tooth pain is a cavity. Read on to learn when a toothache is a red flag for an advanced cavity requiring a visit to the Liberty Hill dentist.
What Is a Cavity?
It is a small hole that occurs on teeth due to the buildup of bacteria and plaque. Cavities can form between teeth, on the chewing surfaces of molars or at the bottom of teeth near the gums. They can be treated using onlays, crowns or dental fillings in Liberty Hill. If left untreated, cavities cause intense pain and can lead to abscesses and tooth loss.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Tooth Pain
Tooth pain always signifies an underlying problem in the tooth. Therefore, it is prudent to have dental exams near you if you experience a toothache. The symptoms of tooth pain include the following.
- A persistent dull ache
- Sharp, throbbingtooth pain.
- Sensitivity when biting down or when taking hot or cold substances
- Fever or chills
- Swelling or pimples in the gums
- Bad breath and taste
The Relationship Between Tooth Pain and Cavity Severity
Cavities begin as white spots on the tooth enamel’s surface, which are not painful. They progress and break down the enamel forming small holes in the soft dentin layer. At this stage, you will experience tooth sensitivity due to the underlying nerves.
When the cavity is not treated, it will enlarge into the tooth pulp at the center of the tooth. The infection will cause the tooth to swell and become severely painful. Abscesses may form on the gums and tooth, causing severe persistent pain.
So, the extent of your tooth pain can be determined by the severity of your cavity. Small cavities do not hurt. However, cavities cause severe toothache when they spread to the inner parts of the tooth. Fortunately, you can have the cavity treated before it starts causing pain.
If a Cavity Hurts, Is It Too Late?
A painful cavity indicates that decay has spread to the central part of the tooth. Severe tooth pain occurs when the tissues, blood vessels and nerves in the tooth are infected. However, this does not signify that it is too late for the Liberty Hill dentist to save your tooth.
The dentist will do a root canal procedure to remove the infected tissues inside the tooth. They use antibiotics to treat current infections and kill bacteria, preventing future reinfection. Then, the expert will use dental fillings to restore the tooth’s structure.
Finally, they will place a customized crown on the tooth to protect and strengthen it. The crown also restores function enabling you to eat without pain and difficulty. It also improves aesthetics by covering the damaged tooth giving you a beautiful smile.
However, if a cavity hurts and the tooth is severely damaged and abscessed, it is too late. The dentist will extract the tooth. Doing so prevents the spread of infection to the bloodstream and nearby teeth. Afterwards, they will replace the missing tooth with implants, bridges or dentures.
Importance of Timely Dental Care
Dental professionals advise their patients to attend dental checkups every six months. Having regular dental exams near you can help prevent cavities. The dentist provides treatments geared towards achieving and maintaining decay-free teeth.
However, most people do not get timely dental care. They skip the regular dental appointments or re-schedule them to a later date. Below are the benefits of visiting the dentist at the scheduled time of your appointment.
- Visiting the dentist will enable them to detect cavities early. As a result, they can reverse small holes through fluoride treatments.
- The dentist will thoroughly clean your mouth, eliminating bacteria and plaque. Timely dental visits enable them to disrupt the tartar formation cycle. As a result, the risk of decay decreases significantly.
- The dentist treats small cavities using fillings before they enlarge and cause toothache.
- Timely dental care saves you money. Preventive dentistry costs less than restorative dentistry.
If you have cavities, you should treat them to prevent severe toothache and other complications. So, contact or visit us at Prime Dental of Liberty Hill. We have the appropriate experience and equipment to treat caries and relieve pain.