An ounce of Prevention

I was on call this past week at the Veteran's Hospital where I am doing a general practice residency. I got a call from the hospital emergency department about a patient who had an infected tooth that had caused a significant swelling of his lower jaw and neck. I had to go in late at night to take the tooth out because if left in place a tooth infection can be lethal. I understand that this patient likely did not have the means to see a dentist on a regular basis but to let a cavity turn into a life threatening infection should not happen.

Sometimes a toothache can be painful then go away because the nerve is dead. However, the infection can remain to erode the bone away from the roots of your teeth and cause swelling or an abscess that will not go away unless a root canal is done or the tooth is extracted. Often people will ask if an antibiotic will cure the infection. Unfortunately, it wont. The infection will always re-surface after the patient stops taking the antibiotic because the antibiotic cannot penetrate into the biofilm where the infection is located. The source remains: an untreated, infected tooth.

This patient I saw had to be admitted to the hospital to give him IV antibiotics and make sure the swelling did not close off his airway. I visited him again the next day and he was doing fine.

Just a reminder to take care of your mouth. It is less expensive, less painful, and less life threatening to go to your dentist on a regular basis and prevent or treat little problems before they become major issues.