Prompt Cavity Care: Why It Is Vital To Prevent An Abscessed Tooth

Do you or one of your loved ones have a painful cavity? If so, you may want to make a prompt appointment with a family dentist before the cavity becomes infected and causes an abscess to develop. Discover why cavity care is so important and what a dentist will have to do to treat an abscessed tooth.

Why is It So Important to Seek Prompt Care for a Cavity?

Cavities can be minor, with only a small portion of tooth enamel decaying away, or they can be so severe that the pulp chamber is at risk for an infection. There is a pulp chamber in each of your teeth that has nerves to help you experience pain when you need dental attention. If the nerves become infected from not getting a cavity treated, the nerves can die. You will then not experience any pain and can develop a dangerous dental problem that you are unaware of.

The pulp chamber is also the area where blood vessels are contained. You don't want bacteria from plaque to get into a cavity and infect the blood vessels, as it can lead to an abscess that contains poisonous pus. If the toxins in the pus make it inside of the blood vessels, a full body inflammation can develop and make you ill. Prompt treatment of a tooth abscess is necessary for your safety.

What Can a Dentist Do to Treat an Abscessed Tooth?

An abscessed tooth must be treated with a root canal due to the damaged nerves and blood vessels in the pulp chamber. A root canal is something that requires a dentist to drill a hole in the tooth that is infected with a dental drill. However, a large cavity may not require that a hole is drilled in the enamel.

The main point of a root canal is for the dentist to access the pulp chamber and remove dead nerves and damaged blood vessels. You will also get the cavity filled during the procedure. Getting a cavity filled can cost $50 to $4,500 depending on what type of material is being placed in the hole. After your root canal is performed and cavity is filled, the dentist will write you a prescription for antibiotics to heal your infection.

If you don't want to dig into your wallet for a root canal, make sure you get your cavity filled. A visit with a family dentist like Gina Collins Mancini, DMD can prevent you from having to deal with a dangerous abscess.

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