Are you the kind of person who always has tissues within reach? Does it seem like every season is allergy or cold season? If that person isn’t you there’s a good chance you know someone like that: they’re the sniffling, nose-blowing, stuffed-up friend or relative.
You might be surprised to find out what’s at the root of your chronic sinus problems: your teeth. In some cases your molars could actually be responsible for chronic sinus infections, and at Edgewood Dental Care we’re equipped to treat you. If those constant infections have you worried then don’t keep seeking answers when we might have the one you need!
The Teeth-Sinus Connection
It sounds weird when you first think about it: how in the world are your teeth responsible for sinus infections? But think about the location of your maxillary sinuses: they’re right next to your nose, and they extend very close to your upper teeth.
If you’ve ever had a sinus infection in your maxillary sinuses you know the pain: your face aches you can’t breath, and there’s a good chance your teeth hurt as well. The bone between your molars and maxillary sinuses is incredibly thin, which is why your teeth hurt when that sinus is infected. But that’s not a one-way street, especially when it comes to infections in your mouth!
When a tooth becomes infected due to a cavity you need to have a root canal performed right away. If you don’t there’s the possibility of the infection spreading from the tooth and into the soft tissue and bone surrounding it. When that happens you develop and abscess, a dangerous pocket of infected material that can cause intense pain, swelling, and in some cases even destroy bone tissue.
Abscesses can occur in extreme cases of gum disease too, but the results are the same as with an abscessed tooth: the infection in your gums and bone becomes a serious risk because of how close it is to your sinuses. The bacteria that the abscess is full of can make its way to your sinuses in one of two ways: either it passes through the bone and soft tissue that divide your sinuses and teeth or the infection eats right through the bone. The latter is incredibly rare, but when it happens immediate action needs to be taken.
How To Treat Abscesses Linked To Sinus Infections
Seeking treatment for undiagnosed chronic sinus infections could end at our Edgewood office. We use state-of-the-art 3D cone beam scanning technology to produce an incredibly detailed and accurate picture of your entire facial area. Viewing this image on a computer allows us to manipulate it and zoom in on the exact location of your pain. We’ll be able to tell in seconds if an abscess has spread to your sinuses.
Regardless of how bad a dental abscess has become it still needs to be treated promptly. The longer an abscess goes untreated the greater the chances of it spreading infection elsewhere in the body. In many cases an abscessed tooth can still be treated with a root canal. If that’s the case we can easily complete your procedure, crown your tooth and have you on the way to living without those chronic sinus infections that have been bugging you for so long.
For more severe cases or for an abscess that’s been caused by advanced gum disease we’ll need to perform oral surgery in order to eliminate the infection and protect any damaged gum tissue or bone. Our team is skilled in various oral surgery techniques – you’re in good hands!
Our goal in treating a dental abscess is always to have you feeling better and avoiding further illness as soon as we can. Depending on the amount of damage caused by the abscess we may also take the time to perform a bone or gum graft to restore any harm that was done.
Don’t Live With Chronic Discomfort!
The pain caused by a dental abscess and the misery caused by chronic sinus infections is horrible: you don’t deserve to live like that! If you’re concerned that undiagnosed sinus infections or a chronic toothache could be related to a dental abscess don’t take chances: call our Edgewood office right away!
You can reach us by phone at 859-474-7830 or you can request an appointment by filling out our online form. We look forward to seeing you soon!