The Deadly Toothache

Every now and then, you may hear on the news about a child or adult who died from a toothache. It always sounds extreme. You may wonder how a toothache could possibly kill someone? In truth, it is not the toothache that causes the problem. The toothache is the messenger that tells you something is seriously wrong.

The Abscessed Tooth

A tooth infection usually starts small with acid eating away at the outer enamel of the tooth. Once the enamel is breached and the decay is able to attack the next layer, which is the dentin, it moves faster. The dentin is softer than the enamel, though it is still formidable and comprised of living tissue and tiny nerve endings.

If the decay is allowed to reach the pulp of the tooth, serious problems can arise. The nerves and blood vessels are attacked, creating irritation that can cause inflammation and infection. When the tooth becomes infected, pus develops, causing an abscess to form at the apex of the root of the tooth.

Root canal therapy can still save the tooth, at this point, if the decay has not eaten away too much of the tooth structure. The pulp needs to be cleaned out and the canal disinfected, filled and sealed off. But what happens if the nerve dies and the infection is not eliminated?

Complications of the Untreated Abscessed Tooth

When the body is confronted with an infection, it fights back. This is the survival mode. When an abscess is not treated and the infection spreads to the blood stream, remember the pulp has blood vessels, bad things happen.

Osteomyelitis can develop in the bone surrounding the tooth. This is an infection in the bone. Abscessed upper teeth can cause an infection of the blood vessels within the sinuses. This is called cavernous sinus thrombosis. The skin and fat directly beneath the skin can become infected, causing cellulitis.

When the infection gets into the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body, you have a serious medical condition known as sepsis. The immune system severely overreacts to the infection in the blood, and if it is not treated, you could go into septic shock. Blood pressure bottoms out, organs begin to fail, and this can lead to death.

When you have a toothache, instead of ignoring it and working through the pain, contact the dentists at Sacramento Emergency Dentist. Make an appointment with us, and we will find the source of your pain, treat the problem and relieve your discomfort.