If you’re experiencing severe tooth pain, it may be caused by an infected tooth that needs extraction. At Zakhor Dental Group in Beverly Hills, we specialize in emergency diagnosis and comprehensive treatment planning.
It is normal to have bacteria in your mouth covering the teeth, tongue, and other oral tissues. However, tooth infections can occur when bacteria penetrates the exterior of your tooth (enamel and dentin), and reaches the tooth pulp, or settles in deep gum pockets where it can’t be reached with regular brushing.
Poor dental hygiene, tooth injury, and dental procedures can lead to cavities and fractures that trap bacteria and allow plaque to build up. Although these injuries are usually not painful, the tooth should be filled or crowned promptly to stop bacteria from eroding the tooth any further. If left untreated and the infection reaches the pulp, a condition known as pulpitis may result, causing you to experience a toothache or sensitivity that is aggravated by hot and cold liquids and foods. If the infection continues to spread through the tooth, it may form a pocket of pus known as an abscess.
Treatment options for tooth infections
If you have pulpitis, your dentist may recommend root canal therapy to remove the infection and preserve your natural tooth. Since the tooth will be weakened after the procedure, it will need to be crowned or capped to restore its strength and stability.
Once an abscess forms, the pus has to be drained to treat the tooth. If the tooth can’t be saved with root canal therapy, it may have to be extracted. Pus removal can occur before or after the extraction. If your dentist finds that extracting the tooth before treatment may allow the infection to spread and cause other complications, such as compromising the healing process after tooth extraction, then your dentist may recommend treating the infection before tooth removal to reduce these risks.
Generally, you will need to take pain medication and some antibiotics for a few days before your surgical tooth removal to remove bacteria in the area, as well as after tooth extraction to prevent infection when healing.
If you’re experiencing the symptoms of a tooth infection, please visit your dentist as soon as possible to save the tooth or schedule an extraction.
When You Need a Tooth Pulled vs. a Root Canal
Not every infected tooth needs to be extracted. In many cases, a root canal can save the tooth by removing the infection from inside the pulp chamber and sealing it to prevent further damage. However, if the tooth is severely decayed, cracked beyond repair, or the infection has spread too far, extraction may be the only option. At Zakhor Dental Group in Beverly Hills, we evaluate each case carefully—our goal is always to preserve your natural tooth if possible. But when extraction is necessary, we provide safe and efficient treatment to eliminate pain and protect your overall health.
How Infections Spread from Tooth to Jaw
Tooth infections that go untreated can quickly become dangerous. What starts as a localized infection inside the tooth can spread through the root canals into the surrounding bone and gum tissue. Over time, the infection may create an abscess—a pocket of pus—that causes swelling, pain, and potentially serious complications. In advanced cases, bacteria can enter the bloodstream or travel into the jawbone, causing cellulitis or osteomyelitis. Prompt diagnosis and treatment by an experienced emergency dentist can stop this progression and save your jaw and other vital structures from long-term damage.
What to Expect During Emergency Extraction
If you arrive in pain with an infected or abscessed tooth, our first priority is to relieve your discomfort. We’ll begin with a digital X-ray to assess the extent of the infection and determine whether the tooth can be saved. If extraction is required, we’ll numb the area with local anesthesia and gently remove the tooth and most likely place a bone graft in the socket for faster healing, socket preservation and reducing the chance of future infections. This will also allow for a more favorable environment for future implant placements. The entire process typically takes less than 30 minutes. After the procedure, you’ll be given detailed aftercare instructions and, if needed, antibiotics to prevent further spread. Most patients recover quickly and experience immediate relief from their infection-related pain.
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