When dealing with a pretty nasty toothache, you might feel relieved if it disappears on its own. “Finally,” you think to yourself, “the pain is gone!” However, you aren’t out of the woods just yet. On the contrary, this vanishing ache could signify a more serious problem. To learn more, read this summary on why “disappearing” toothaches are an issue, how you should respond, and what your dentist can do to help.
Why is a “Disappeared” Toothache an Issue?
As you may know, dental pain can result from various problems — tooth sensitivity, a dental abscess, a damaged filling, etc. Even so, most toothaches stem from cavities. When dental decay advances to a tooth’s center or pulp, it becomes an infection that causes significant pain to its central nerves.
Left untreated, this decay can kill the nerves such that they stop sending pain signals to the brain. While that does get rid of your pain, it sets the stage for something much worse. From that point, the infection will become more aggressive and attack surrounding tissues, thus damaging your teeth, gums, and jawbone.
How Should You Respond?
Given the above complications, see an emergency dentist if you have a suddenly disappearing toothache. They’ll have the knowledge, experience, and tools to treat any underlying pulp infection.
In contrast, not seeking urgent care could put your tooth at further risk. After all, infected tooth pulp can lead to tooth loss. The infection could even spread to other body parts and potentially become life-threatening.
What Can Your Dentist Do to Help?
With root canal therapy, your dentist can prevent an infected tooth from causing further damage. This treatment would create a hole in said tooth to access its pulp and remove infected tissue. Later, the now-empty cavity would be filled with a unique synthetic material. Finally, a crown may be placed over the tooth to protect it from fracture or further infection.
If the pulp infection has advanced too far, though, root canal therapy won’t be an option. Instead, your dentist may need to perform a tooth extraction to keep infected tissue from harming the rest of your body.
As you can see, a “disappeared” toothache isn’t as good as you might think. Contact your emergency dentist at once if you experience one for yourself — you just might be able to save the tooth!
About the Author
Dr. Karl Arakelian is a dentist in Bradford village of Haverhill, MA. Since earning his DMD, he’s practiced high-quality dentistry for nearly thirty years. He has also maintained membership in the Massachusetts Dental Association. Today, the man offers state-of-the-art dental care that spans preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, including emergency smile treatments. Dr. Arakelian currently practices at his self-titled clinic and can be reached at his website or by phone at (978)-373-0901.
