When I had a badly decayed tooth extracted, I got a partial denture to fill in the gap. I didn't mind it at first, because I was just so happy to have my painful tooth out of my mouth. Over time, I began to get tired of taking it out at night. I asked my dentist if I was could get a dental implant, and he said that my gum disease did not make me a good candidate, but a fixed bridge may be a good option for me. I went with his suggestion, and I have no regrets. I love feeling like I have a real tooth again that I don't have to remove at night. I created this blog to remind other people with a missing tooth that they have many replacement options, and if one is not for you, then try another that may be right.
Toothaches are a natural--and seemingly unavoidable--part of life. But while many toothaches will pass by of their own accord, others may be signs of more serious problems. If you would like to learn more about some of the potential underlying causes of toothache, this article will introduce you to two of the most serious.
Abscessed Tooth
There are three principal stages of tooth decay. The first, demineralization, is the weakening of your tooth's enamel. This eventually leads to holes in the enamel--cavities. And when a cavity is permitted to persist untreated for long enough, it may develop into the painful condition known as an abscess.
An abscessed tooth is one whose pulp has become infected. It represents a stage of dental decay whose only solution is usually a root canal. In this procedure, a dentist first empties the tooth of its interior tissue, then fill the void with a sealing material. In especially serious cases, the entire tooth may need to be extracted.
Toothache is but one among many potential symptoms of an abscess. In most cases, one or more of the following will also be present:
If you believe you may be suffering from an abscessed tooth, it is important to seek dental care as soon as possible.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the most commonly experienced form of periodontal disease--that is, those diseases that affect the tissue of the gums. While most cases of gingivitis does not cause toothache, more severe varieties of the disease can. This is most common for those with the type of gingivitis known as ANUG, an acronym which stands for acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.
ANUG is caused by certain pernicious forms of bacteria. When are allowed to persist unchecked in the mouth, these bacteria can lead to the death of gum tissue. In its early stages, it may cause painful and/or bleeding gums. It may also aggravate already sensitive teeth, leading to severe toothache.
Not everybody is at an equal risk of developing ANUG. The chance is greatest where one or more of the following factors exist:
If you believe that ANUG may be the cause of your toothache, it is vital you seek dental aid as soon as possible. If the disease has already progressed to a certain degree, it may be necessary for portions of your gum tissue to be removed through surgery. When diagnosed quickly enough, however, ANUG can effectively be treated through regular dental visits and proper at-home hygiene.
For more information on dental health topics, contact professionals like Thomas E Rider, DDS and Allison S Reese, DDS.
Share6 October 2015
