The Importance of Dental Care

Left untreated the infected root of the tooth will die and the pain and discomfort will stop but the tooth will be dead. That doesn’t mean the infection is dead though. In fact the infection will continue to spread through the root in to the gums with the potential to eat away at the tissue around your gums. The infection can also continue to spread to other parts of your body, including your bloodstream. Left unchecked this can actually end up being a fatal condition.

It is not unheard of to die of an abscessed tooth. It was in fact an abscessed tooth that took down one of Egypt’s greatest leaders 3,500 years ago. Queen Hatshepsut ruled during the 18’Th dynasty when female leaders were uncommon and almost unheard of. Queen Hatshepsut had bone cancer and was diabetic according to CT scans on her mummy but that wasn’t what killed her. The great leader of the 18’TH dynasty that led when women were not allowed to lead was taken down at the age of fifty by an abscessed tooth ending her reign as Queen.

Of course the Queen did not have access to what we have access to today- namely a dentist. If you suspect you have a cavity your dentist can do an exam and tell for sure. They will likely need to do an x ray to verify how deep into the root the infection has spread and then work to stop the infection with a round of antibiotics.

The goal of the dentist in regards to an infected tooth is to stop the infection and to save the tooth. If you wait too long to get into the doctor the only thing they may be able to do is stop the infection and the tooth will have to be extracted.

If the tooth can be salvaged the dentist will want to drain the infection by doing a root canal. Once this has been done a crown will be placed over the tooth to protect it from any further damage or decay. In extreme cases it may be necessary for the dentist to drain the infection by making an incision in the swollen gums in order to get the infection under control this will get the infection under control and allow the dentist to save the tooth.

The good news is an abscessed tooth is completely preventable with proper oral care, which includes regular brushing and flossing and yearly visits to have your teeth professionally cleaned.

So don’t follow in the fatal steps of Queen Hatshepsut, there is no reason to let an infection led to painful surgery, tooth extraction or in her case a very untimely and young death.