Sometimes, a person can suffer with a vicious toothache only for it to suddenly disappear. If this happens to you, you might be in even greater need of an emergency dentist than you were before. While a toothache vanishing might seem like a relief, it may actually be the calm before a storm of tooth decay and secondary infections. Here’s why you might still need a root canal if your tooth stops hurting.
What Causes a Toothache?
Sometimes a toothache can be caused by food stuck between the teeth. In these cases, it can usually be resolved by brushing and flossing. Other times a toothache can be caused by expanding air trapped in tiny cracks in the tooth, and it can be resolved when you reach a lower elevation. However, a severe, throbbing toothache is usually caused by tooth decay reaching the pulp of the tooth.
Tooth decay begins with a cavity, and cavities do not get better without professional intervention. If a cavity is left untreated, it will burrow its way through the enamel and dentin layers of a tooth until it reaches the pulp inside. When the pulp becomes infected, the nerve endings within send distress signals to the brain, causing the patient to feel pain.
Why Would a Toothache Suddenly Disappear?
If a tooth suffering this stage of decay disappears, it is most likely that the infection has killed the nerve ending in the pulp. Since dead nerves send no distress signals, the pain will cease at this point. Unfortunately, tooth decay will not stop when the pain it causes does.
If left untreated, tooth decay at this stage will continue to destroy the tooth until it is totally lost. The bacteria causing this tooth decay can also spread to other teeth in the mouth. Making matters much worse, the blood vessels in the pulp can allow these germs to spread to other tissues in the body through the circulatory system where they can cause dangerous secondary infections such as sepsis. An untreated toothache can lead to a trip to the emergency room.
How Can My Dentist Treat a Toothache?
A root canal is a common dental procedure that is completely painless thanks to local anesthesia. After the infected tooth is numbed, your dentist will remove any decayed tooth structure and access the chamber of the pulp. There, they will remove the infected tissue and sanitize the chamber before filling it with a special dental material called gutta percha and sealing it. They will then place a customized dental crown on top of the tooth to restore it to its former shape and strength.
Receiving a root canal is a far more pleasant experience than suffering through the consequences of untreated tooth decay. If your toothache suddenly vanishes, you can best preserve your smile and your overall health by getting to an emergency dentist as soon as possible.
About the Author
Dr. Mo Saleh graduated from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine before completing a one-year general practice residency. He maintains memberships with the American Dental Association, the Ohio Dental Association, and the Greater Cleveland Dental Society. His office in Brecksville, OH offers general, cosmetic, emergency, and restorative dentistry such as root canal treatments. If your toothache has suddenly disappeared, dial (440) 546-9494, or contact the office online to schedule an appointment.