TOOTH ABSCESS
The center of a tooth is filled with blood vessels and nerves and is commonly called the NERVE of the tooth. When the NERVE becomes infected, usually from DEEP DECAY… PUS builds up inside the tooth. This may cause the tooth to begin to hurt for no reason at all or can even wake a person up at night. Slight tapping on the tooth can also cause pain. The tooth is said to be ABSCESSING.
At this point there are 2 ways to treat the infected tooth- either by pulling the tooth or having root canal therapy. There are several points to consider for both treatments.
PULLING THE TOOTH
The long-term consideration for this option is the space left where the tooth once was. If the missing tooth is not replaced, the teeth on either side of the space will tip and the opposite tooth will grow out of the socket, making the shifted teeth harder to clean and therefore more prone to decay and gum disease.
Replacing the missing tooth would require an implant, a cemented bridge, or a removable partial denture.
ROOT CANAL THERAPY
A tooth that has had a root canal is no longer vital. It becomes fragile and needs to be crowned to protect it from breaking and cracking. Most root canals are uneventful.
Should you decide to have a root canal, we will be happy to schedule the root canal appointment with the root canal specialist for you.
With either decision, it may be necessary to first rid the infection by taking an antibiotic for several days before any treatment is performed.