Month: January 2022

A tooth infection is a dental condition wherein a pocket of pus forms in the mouth due to bacterial proliferation. A tooth infection, alternately known as an abscessed tooth, may occur due to various reasons such as tooth decay, injuries, and previous dental work.

The key manifestations of tooth infection include severe toothache, tooth sensitivity, and swelling. Now that we have briefly touched upon what tooth infection is all about. Let us try to answer the looming question of whether tooth infection can spread to the lungs.

The Spread of Tooth Infection to Lungs
With timely treatment, tooth infection is not very harmful. However, when a tooth infection is not treated for prolonged periods, it transitions into the more dangerous gingivitis or periodontitis. 

There may be tissue damage that increases the chance of bacteria infecting the lungs and other body parts such as the brain.

In addition to dental infection, poor oral hygiene can also cause naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth to spread to the lungs.

Medical studies have linked tooth infection and poor oral hygiene with respiratory or lung-related illnesses. Oral health can influence your lung health by two pathways.

1. Oral Bacteria in the Blood: The first pathway via which bacteria can spread into the lungs is via the bloodstream. 

   When an infection transforms into severe gum disease, precious gum tissues are brown down. Thus, the mouth becomes susceptible to infection. As such, the bacteria can enter into the lungs or body parts and result in body-wide inflammation.

2. Oral Bacteria in the Air: We breathe bacteria into our lungs all the time. A University of Missouri research reveals that tiny droplets of saliva are carried to and from the mouth while we breathe, and this saliva can hold bacteria. Nevertheless, our natural immune system tackles the detriment of the naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth. However, when the immune system is burdened due to a tooth infection, the lungs can become irritated and inflamed.

Thus, it is essential to be vigilant of tooth infections and visit the dentist in case of mild symptoms.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

Root canal treatments are done when a tooth turns out to be incredibly painful. Moreover, it is an option in contrast to eliminating the tooth and placement of an implant or bridge.

As such, it is a quite necessary procedure. Patients most of the time feel better after the initial appointment. Therefore, they only do half the procedure once they figure that they are out of pain, so why finish?

What happens if the root canal is not finished?
Root canal treatments are used to treat a tooth with damage inside the pulp of a tooth. It’s intended to wipe out bacteria from an infected root canal and save the natural tooth. At the point when you start root canal treatment without owning it as far as possible, open space is left behind which can make bacteria grow, thereafter, infecting your body.

Potential dangers of root canal not finished

• Infection: The dangers related to the root canal not being finished may depend on the severity and resilience of the bacteria. Indeed, even minor infections can develop, turning out to be more serious after some time.
• Pain and swelling: The first and the foremost sign a patient is probably going to see after incomplete root canal treatment is pain and swelling of the gumline. While tooth infections regularly develop in the root and nerve tissue of a tooth, the bacteria can leak out into the surrounding gum line, causing extreme redness and swelling.
• Tooth loss: As the bone erodes, teeth can turn out to be free and fall out. While the initial infection may only result in a single lost tooth, if left half treated, the infection can cause more significant loss.

A tooth infection by root canal not finished can even become life-threatening. While many people have heard the bogus story that a root canal is excessively painful, it tends to be a life-saving procedure if done completely, as well as an effective way to put a full stop to the discomfort of an infected tooth.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

We can define a tooth abscess as a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection. It is usually formed around the root of a tooth and can affect anyone, regardless of age. There are two types of dental abscess – a periapical abscess that occurs at the tip of the tooth’s root and a periodontal abscess that occurs in the gums at the side of the tooth root.

Common Causes of Dental Abscess
The primordial cause of periapical tooth abscess is bacteria’s invasion of the dental pulp. The pulp is the inner portion of a tooth filled with nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. Conditions such as a deep cavity or tooth decay, gum diseases, or cracked tooth increase the susceptibility of people to develop a dental abscess.

Factors that Increase the Risk of Dental Abscess

• The first factor that increases the vulnerability of people to suffer from a dental abscess is a poor dental hygiene regimen.
• A diet with high sugar can also contribute to dental cavities that may turn into an abscess.
• A dry mouth also elevates the risk of dental decay and dental abscess.

Symptoms of Dental Abscess
You can identify a dental abscess through the following symptoms –

• Severe toothache with a throbbing sensation
• Tooth sensitivity to extreme cold and hot foods and drinks
• Fever
• Swelling in your neck and jaw
• A sudden rush of pungent-smelling and foul-tasting fluids inside the mouth happens with the pus related to abscess ruptures.
• Difficulty in breathing or swallowing.

In conclusion, a dental abscess is primarily caused by bacterial invasion of the pulp inside a tooth. Chips and cracks on a tooth facilitate the condition. It is noteworthy to mention that a dental abscess is an avoidable condition. Taking meticulous care of the gums and teeth is the first step in keeping dental abscesses at bay. Secondly, drinking fluoridated water and fluoride-based toothpaste can also help avoid the problem.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

Dental implants are artificial appliances that act as a replacement for natural teeth that may have been due to severe decay, injuries, periodontal diseases, and so forth. Implants are crucial elements of modern dentistry, and we can gauge their significance from the fact that one out of four Americans loses their teeth after the age of 74. As such, there is no surprise that dental implants were initially manufactured and fashioned to fit the needs of senior citizens. In due course of time, dental implants were adopted by the younger population as well. Now that we have deliberated upon the basics of dental implants, let us try and answer the looming question of whether dental implants come with an age limit. 

Age Limit for Dental Implants
To begin with, we have to underline the fact that there is no upper limit age restriction when it comes to dental implants. But, the lower limit for dental implants is typically 18 to 21 years of age. The rudimentary requirement for dental implants is that the patient should have enough jawbones to support the dental implants. Other criteria include not being a chain smoker, having healthy gums, having an immaculate oral hygiene regimen, and not being an alcoholic. As we have already talked about, age does not determine the applicability and feasibility of dental implants, and a majority of the people who get dental implants are between 50 to 70 years. Even people in their 90s or 80s are potential candidates for dental implants, provided that they possess enough jaw bone and have no oral complications. 

Dental implants are an age-defying phenomenon that serves as a boon for people, irrespective of their status in life. Young people and older adults equally benefit from dental implants that help them lead reasonably normal lives. 

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

While Medicare offers broad coverage for a large portion of your medical care needs, you might be contemplating whether they cover dental procedures such as implants? All things considered, implants include surgery, anesthesia, and other “medical” things, so shouldn’t they be included in your Medicare coverage?

Maybe one might say, however it may not be that simple.

This is what you want to be aware of Medicare dental implants, and what Medicare might cover for you.

Learn about dental implants 
At the point when a whole tooth is either lost or never grew in the first place, your dentist might replace it with an implant, which is a false tooth that works very much like a real one. It has a root that is set into the jawbone a lot like the original and might be used as an alternative to dentures, or if bridgework is definitely not a practical choice for the maintenance of broken or lost teeth.

How much do dental implants cost?
However a ton of factors weigh into the expense of dental implants, you can regularly hope to pay between $3,200 – $6,000 per implanted tooth. However, it’s challenging to give a specific number.

The justification behind such a wide expense range is because of factors like the health and condition of the jawbone and gums, and the degree of prep important to install the implant. 

Does Medicare cover dental implants?
While Medicare might pay for medical treatments related to implants, it won’t pay for the implants themselves.

For example, assuming an oral surgery needs to be performed in a hospital to prepare for your implants, Medicare may cover costs related to the hospital, but not for the surgery itself. This might incorporate Medicare covering the expenses of the hospital bed, surgical chamber, and the hospital’s equipment fees, though not the surgical treatment performed by a dentist.

What does Medicare cover for dental care?
While Medicare may cover essentially the total of your medical care costs, the only dental costs they cover are those related to illness or injury.

For instance, assuming your cardiologist needs a dentist to perform a checkup to clear you for heart valve or kidney surgery, Medicare might cover it. Moreover, assuming dental reconstruction of your jaw is necessary after an accident, Medicare might cover that as well.

Then again, a routine dental checkup or treatment irrelevant to any surgery, illness, or injury may not be covered.

Be that as it may, while Medicare Part A (hospital) and Medicare Part B (medical) won’t cover dentistry, certain Medicare Advantage plans offered by private insurance companies might cover. Assuming you’re thinking about getting implants, this may be your most ideal choice.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!