Nothing can ruin your day quite like a tooth infection in Oak Lawn, IL. This painful dental condition happens when harmful bacteria find their way into the inner part of your tooth, creating a pocket of infection that can make even the toughest person cry.
Call Andrew J. Sampalis, DDS & Associates at 708-576-4073 for a root canal appointment. Understanding what causes this pain and how to treat it can help you get back to living your life without constant discomfort.
People struggling with infected teeth often use dramatic words to explain their suffering. The most common description is a deep, pounding ache that never seems to stop.
Patients frequently compare it to having a tiny drill working inside their tooth around the clock. Others say it feels like their tooth might explode from the pressure building up inside.
The pain often spreads beyond just the problem tooth. Many patients report feeling like lightning bolts are shooting through their jaw, up to their ear, or down their neck.
Some describe it as feeling like their entire face is on fire. The area around the infected tooth usually becomes very sensitive, making it painful to even touch their cheek or jaw.
What makes this pain particularly challenging is how it interferes with basic activities. Eating becomes a nightmare, especially with hot or cold foods. Even drinking water can trigger waves of agony that leave patients gasping for relief.
Tooth infections rarely start with severe pain. Instead, they typically begin with mild sensitivity or a dull ache that comes and goes. Unfortunately, this early discomfort is just the beginning of a painful journey that gets progressively worse without proper treatment.
During the first few days, the pain might only bother you when eating or drinking. However, as the infection grows stronger, the discomfort becomes more frequent and intense. What once was manageable with basic pain relievers soon requires stronger medications that provide less and less relief.
Within weeks, many people find themselves dealing with constant, severe pain that disrupts their sleep and makes concentration nearly impossible. The infection creates increasing pressure inside the tooth, and this pressure has nowhere to escape.
A tooth infection in Oak Lawn that goes untreated can eventually cause facial swelling, fever, and even dangerous complications that affect other parts of the body.
When you’re dealing with an infected tooth, root canal treatment becomes your best defense against ongoing suffering. Think of this procedure as a deep cleaning mission that targets the exact spot where all your pain is coming from. Your dentist acts like a skilled detective, tracking down every bit of infected material hiding inside your tooth.
The process involves accessing the tooth’s inner core, where the infection has taken hold. Your dentist removes all the diseased tissue and thoroughly disinfects the entire area. It’s like renovating the inside of your tooth, getting rid of everything that’s causing problems and creating a clean, healthy environment.
Once the cleaning is complete, the tooth gets filled with a biocompatible material that seals everything tight. This prevents new bacteria from moving in and starting the painful cycle all over again. The whole procedure is designed to save your original tooth rather than removing it entirely.
The relief many patients feel is remarkable. Instead of dealing with weeks or months of worsening pain, most people notice their discomfort fading away within just a few days. Your tooth can continue serving you for many years to come, free from the infection that was making your life miserable.
A tooth infection in Oak Lawn doesn’t have to control your life any longer. Contact Andrew J. Sampalis, DDS today to schedule your appointment and take the first step toward getting your smile back on track.
Call Andrew J. Sampalis, DDS & Associates at 708-576-4073 for an appointment in Oak Lawn, IL. You can also schedule online.
