Dental emergencies can arise from physical trauma or advanced oral health problems, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Pain is often the first symptom experienced during a dental emergency and can signify that damage is affecting the nerve endings in the teeth and gums. Because complications of dental emergencies can include life-threatening infections and permanent loss of oral functionality, patients should immediately schedule an appointment with our San Francisco dental emergency treatment provider if they suspect that they are suffering from an urgent dental problem.

Dental emergencies can be divided into those caused by oral health problems and those resulting from trauma. If left untreated, tooth decay can progress to reach the pulp of the tooth, where it may cause severe pain as nerve involvement ensues. Gum disease can also reach the nerves and cause serious infections, often including abscess, which can become systemic if allowed to progress. Trauma resulting in cracked or broken teeth can be caused by accidents, assaults, and very hard foods. If trauma leaves the deeper layers of the teeth exposed, other oral health problems are more likely to develop if the issue is not addressed promptly by our expert in dental emergency in San Francisco.

Dental Emergency San Francisco

A variety of treatments may be recommended after a dental emergency occurs. When infections are involved, our San Francisco dental emergency treatment provider may recommend root canal treatment or surgery to remove the infected tissue, protect the tooth, and restore its appearance. Cracked or broken teeth may be repairable through bonding or crowns depending on the extent of damage and the condition of the broken tooth portion. When repair is not possible, extraction and replacement may be advised.

Patients who experience tooth pain can take anti-inflammatory drugs and use ice packs locally before treatment to reduce discomfort and halt swelling. When teeth break apart, patients should keep the broken portion in the cheek to preserve its tissues until their appointment with our expert in dental emergency in San Francisco. Patients can schedule a consultation with our dentist in San Francisco to learn more about dental emergencies and how Dr. Amini and Associate dentists at CitiDent may treat them.

Tooth Infection

Tooth infection is a potentially dangerous situation in which tooth decay reaches the inner parts of the tooth, where the pulp and nerves are located. When a tooth infection reaches the nerves, intense pain is likely to result and may grow worse as the infection progresses. Patients may also develop an abscess, which is a collection of pus that collects inside of the gums local to the tooth. The possibility of systemic problems from tooth infections makes timely treatment by our San Francisco tooth infection treatment provider essential in this situation.

Tooth infections may result from tooth decay or prior trauma. When tooth decay results in infection, it may have been left untreated for some time, giving bacteria time to erode through the enamel and into the sensitive inner tissues. Prior trauma can lead to tooth infections by exposing the soft inner portions of the tooth, which are normally protected by the enamel. Bacteria and acids can readily attack the dentin and pulp inside the tooth, resulting in a serious infection more quickly than if the tooth were intact.

Our expert in tooth infection in San Francisco may treat infected teeth with root canal treatment or surgery depending on the extent of the damage and the goals of the patient. Root canal treatment involves drilling into the tooth, eliminating the infection and covering the tooth with a protective, good-looking crown. Root canal surgery performed by Dr. Amini and associate dentists at CitiDent has the same goal but may be done from underneath, through an incision in the gums, or following removal of the tooth, after which the tooth is put back in place. In some cases, extraction and replacement of the tooth by our San Francisco tooth infection treatment provider may be recommended. Dental implants, bridges, or dentures can be used in line with the goals of the patient.

Tooth infections can result in serious, even fatal, systemic problems if neglected. For this reason, patients should immediately call our expert in tooth infection in San Francisco for an appointment if they experience tooth pain. Patients can schedule a consultation with our San Francisco dentist to learn more about tooth infections and treatment options.