Tootaches & Oral Infections

A toothache can be one of the most painful things you’ll ever experience.

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Unfortunately, it’s not possible for teeth to heal on their own, so covering up the symptoms with an over the counter pain reliever will only provide temporary relief.

It’s important to have Dr. Segal see you right away, before the infection becomes worse. In rare situations an abscessed tooth can evolve into something so dangerous that it requires hospitalization or a trip to the emergency room.

Let us know if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Swelling in the gums, mouth, or face

• Difficulty eating

• Bleeding

• Severe pain

• Tooth mobility

• A visibly broken tooth

• An abscess

• Bad taste in your mouth

In every case emergency care is available on the same day to get you out of pain. From there, our office will help you determine the next best steps. It could be that you need a root canal or to have the tooth extracted. The goal is to eliminate the infection and prevent it from returning, in the most non-invasive way possible.

Tooth Extractions

When a tooth is too decayed, damaged, or infected to repair, it is usually extracted. Dental extractions are common emergency treatments because of the fast results. However, Dr. Segal aims to avoid extractions unless the tooth is non-restorable. When possible, a crown or root canal may be more appropriate.

Before deciding to have a tooth pulled an X-ray must be taken to determine how deep the damage is and if the tooth is restorable. When possible, it’s best to preserve and treat your natural teeth.

In some cases, it’s necessary to extract teeth in non-emergency situations, such as removing those with severe periodontal disease or as part of your full mouth reconstruction treatment. Dr. Segal will want to discuss all available options with you first.

One of the most common types of dental extractions that our patients require is wisdom tooth removal. Due to their location in the mouth, wisdom teeth often become impacted or only erupt partially. This can lead to problems such as:

• Crowding, due to pressure against the neighboring teeth

• Tooth decay and gum disease around partially erupted molars

• Swelling or cysts in the back of the mouth

Root Canals

Infected teeth can be the most painful experience you’ve dealt with. 

To treat an abscess, we remove the dying nerve, medicate the inside of the tooth, and then seal it off. It’s like getting a filling that extends through the length of the root rather than just the top of the tooth.

Because endodontically (root canal) treated teeth are no longer alive, their brittle enamel can wear down when you bite or chew. After your root canal we’ll recommend getting a crown on top of your tooth to preserve it for several more years.

Are there alternatives to getting root canals? Other than extracting the tooth, usually not. However, we typically only reserve extractions for severe pain, non-restorable teeth, or swelling that requires immediate treatment.

Getting a root canal isn’t much different than having a filling done, it is just a different procedure. only it takes a little longer. Dr. Segal will make sure that there is virtually no discomfort during a root canal procedure.

Chipped & Broken Teeth

One of the most common emergencies that we see is chipped teeth. More often than not, it’s because of a minor mishap like bumping into the wall, playing softball, or having a toddler tilt their head back into your mouth. But sometimes it’s due to an old filling or widening cavity.

To prevent chipped teeth, we recommend wearing a professionally fitting mouthguard. Sports mouthpieces can also safeguard you against the risk of concussion when made properly. Ask for one made by our office instead of a loose design sold over the counter.

Loose & Missing Crowns

If a crown starts to feel loose or falls off, there are a few reasons why it might have happened. At Segal Dental we diagnose if the crown has failed. 

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Putting an older crown back on isn’t always appropriate, especially if the enamel is compromised by additional decay. Doing so would only trap bacteria under the cap and allow it to expand further, causing eventual pain and abscessing.

Most of the time the tooth will need to be re-prepped and a new crown made. 

Our treatment plans are customized to the unique needs of our South Florida dental patients. If you have a loose crown, call immediately!

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