Emergency Dentistry

Emergency Dentist in Shelby Township is what we are known for. At The Gentle Dentist in Shelby Twp. we not only try our best to accommodate you or your family for their dental emergency but do it in a kind and respectful way. Dental pain is real and can lead to severe infections which could be life-threatening. Dental infections can occur around the teeth or in the jaw. Please don’t wait but give us a call at 586-247-3500 to see what we can do with your pain.

Emergency tooth pain from nerve infection

Dental infections most commonly occur when cavities develop in a tooth that makes their way to the dental pulp. Bacteria live in the cavity and when a cavity progresses to the pulp it infects the nerve and blood vessels which is a superhighway to the bone that surrounds the tooth. When the infection extends beyond the nerve of the tooth it will start to live off of the bone. It will progress and build up pressure which makes a tooth hurt when biting down on. If this continues it will bore a hole in the bone and eventually making its way to the soft tissue. The gum tissue will swell out at this point and if it continues may make its way down the neck or even into the brain if it is an upper tooth. As the bone loss progresses it is easier to see on a dental x-ray. In the early stages of an infection, it may not show up on an x-ray.

Emergency tooth and gum pain from bone loss around the tooth

If there is bone loss around a tooth and it becomes infected it may not be painful until it is too late and needs to be extracted. Periodontal disease is also known as Gum disease can be severe but it is misleading because the bone loss around a tooth is not painful as much as an infection from inside of the tooth and many people ignore the signs of these types of infections. If your teeth are loose, you have bad breath or your gums bleed when brushing you probably have periodontal disease. Prevention is the best way to avoid the silent disease which could lead to tooth loss.

Treatment for a dental infection is either an extraction or root canal

Extraction:  An extraction is an effective way to remove an infection.  If the infection is from the nerve or the tissue around the tooth the process of removing the source of infection in almost immediate relief of pain and pressure associated with an infected tooth. An antibiotic can be used before the procedure to make the numbing agent called local anesthesia work better therefore requiring less.  Many times a tooth can be removed even though there is an infection present.  Of course, it would need to be assessed by us first.

Root canal:  This is the process of removing an infected nerve which is in the tooth.  This procedure is not as painful as people make it out to be if the tooth is adequately numbed up and it can usually be accomplished at the same day that the patient comes into the office on a dental emergency.  By removing the infected nerve it releases the pressure from the tooth and the bone relieving the extreme pain from the infected tooth.

What to do in case of Tooth Trauma

Dental Trauma Guide

• If a tooth is injured from a fall or blow to the mouth/jaw then immediate attention must be given by contacting us at 586-247-3500.  We will direct you and take care of you if possible.
• If a tooth is dislodged from the mouth do your best to recover the tooth.  Handle it by the crown (white) portion only and rinse it in milk to remove any contaminates.
• If it is possible, place the tooth back into the dental socket where it came from and get to the dentist immediately.  The longer it takes to put the tooth back into the socket the poorer the prognosis of saving the tooth.  You never want to have it dry out.  If this is not possible and the tooth is from a child put it in your own mouth to keep it moist.
• If a tooth breaks in a couple of pieces then try to recover the pieces.  If a tooth is chipped, many times it is possible to bond the pieces together and get a great result.