When a cavity is left untreated, there is a risk that infection can take hold at anytime. If you have a cavity that has progressed into an infection, it is important to get to a doctor as soon as possible. An infection can go from being just a toothache, to a life threatening emergency before you know it.
One question a lot of people likely ask themselves is, how do I know if a Tooth is infected? Some signs to look out for are swelling of the face, sudden fatigue, and localized pain in areas such as the ears and sinuses. If you have any of these symptoms, it is essential that you get to a dentist or doctor as soon as possible.
When you see a dentist in regards to an Infection, in most cases you will be put on a course of antibiotics. This mandates about a week before the tooth can dealt with. The logic for this being that, when a tooth is pulled, there is a ten percent risk of developing a systemic infection afterwards. In conjunction, there lies a twenty-five percent chance of progressed infection in those with an already compromised immune system1. The farther along that an infection advances, the greater its chance of making its way to the bloodstream; all the while causing a multitude of complications.
In the rare instance that a bacterial infection does reach the blood, it can cause a condition known as infective endocarditis. This condition occurs when bacteria make their way into the bloodstream and reach the heart. These bacteria build up in blood, forming a tiny mass in the valveways2. As a result, it is especially important that those with heart problems receive antibiotics when a systemic infection is suspect.
In September of 2011, a twenty-four year old Cincinnati man died of an infection almost exactly like infective endocarditis. For the sole reason of being without insurance, Kyle Willis had been putting off having his tooth taken care of. It was not until his face began to swell that Kyle admitted himself into the emergency room. For whatever reason, that night Kyle choose to buy the pain medications prescribed to him by his doctor rather than the antibiotics.
This would turn out to be a deadly decision for Kyle. As a result, the pain medication may have very well numbed his senses to the infection, allowing it to progress outside of his immediate awareness3. In this particular case, the bacteria reached Kyles bloodstream, where they traveled to his brain and caused it to fatally swell.
Another Cincinnati man would later lose his life to a similar infection. John Scneider of Mt. Orab Cincinnati was thirty-one years old when he checked into the hospital for what he believed was a sinus infection. It was here that the doctors discovered John actually had sepsis from an untreated cavity. In Johns case, the infection advanced to such a degree that it shut down some of his major organs4.This brings us to a condition that is very important to be aware of, known as sepsis.
Sepsis is an infection of the blood that occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream. When bacteria are in the blood they release toxins into it by means of their routine metabolic processes. This triggers inflammation throughout the entire body, eventually causing the shutdown of multiple organ systems as happened to John. Some of the beginning signs of blood sepsis include low blood pressure, fast heart rate, confusion, and fever. Sepsis is a serious condition that can kill fast, because of this it is vital that you take care of an infected tooth as soon as possible.
In conclusion, it is important to recognize the signs of an tooth infection early. Tooth extractions may seem expensive, however they really are not. A simple extraction will set you back maybe sixty to eighty dollars, and that's without insurance. Without a doubt, routine extractions and antibiotics save peoples lives from deadly infections. Bacterial infections are no joke and can grasp hold of the body in a matter of days. Seek help when you are showing signs of a tooth infection, especially if it shows no signs of improvement.
Sources
1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0049712/
2. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/antibiotics-before-procedures-beyond-the-basics
3. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/insurance-24-year-dies-toothache/story?id=14438171
4. http://www.wlwt.com/news/tooth-infection-causes-blood-infection-leads-to-mans-death/25868246
| Here we see the basic bodily components of a generic bacterium |
When you see a dentist in regards to an Infection, in most cases you will be put on a course of antibiotics. This mandates about a week before the tooth can dealt with. The logic for this being that, when a tooth is pulled, there is a ten percent risk of developing a systemic infection afterwards. In conjunction, there lies a twenty-five percent chance of progressed infection in those with an already compromised immune system1. The farther along that an infection advances, the greater its chance of making its way to the bloodstream; all the while causing a multitude of complications.
In the rare instance that a bacterial infection does reach the blood, it can cause a condition known as infective endocarditis. This condition occurs when bacteria make their way into the bloodstream and reach the heart. These bacteria build up in blood, forming a tiny mass in the valveways2. As a result, it is especially important that those with heart problems receive antibiotics when a systemic infection is suspect.
In September of 2011, a twenty-four year old Cincinnati man died of an infection almost exactly like infective endocarditis. For the sole reason of being without insurance, Kyle Willis had been putting off having his tooth taken care of. It was not until his face began to swell that Kyle admitted himself into the emergency room. For whatever reason, that night Kyle choose to buy the pain medications prescribed to him by his doctor rather than the antibiotics.
This would turn out to be a deadly decision for Kyle. As a result, the pain medication may have very well numbed his senses to the infection, allowing it to progress outside of his immediate awareness3. In this particular case, the bacteria reached Kyles bloodstream, where they traveled to his brain and caused it to fatally swell.
Another Cincinnati man would later lose his life to a similar infection. John Scneider of Mt. Orab Cincinnati was thirty-one years old when he checked into the hospital for what he believed was a sinus infection. It was here that the doctors discovered John actually had sepsis from an untreated cavity. In Johns case, the infection advanced to such a degree that it shut down some of his major organs4.This brings us to a condition that is very important to be aware of, known as sepsis.
Sepsis is an infection of the blood that occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream. When bacteria are in the blood they release toxins into it by means of their routine metabolic processes. This triggers inflammation throughout the entire body, eventually causing the shutdown of multiple organ systems as happened to John. Some of the beginning signs of blood sepsis include low blood pressure, fast heart rate, confusion, and fever. Sepsis is a serious condition that can kill fast, because of this it is vital that you take care of an infected tooth as soon as possible.
In conclusion, it is important to recognize the signs of an tooth infection early. Tooth extractions may seem expensive, however they really are not. A simple extraction will set you back maybe sixty to eighty dollars, and that's without insurance. Without a doubt, routine extractions and antibiotics save peoples lives from deadly infections. Bacterial infections are no joke and can grasp hold of the body in a matter of days. Seek help when you are showing signs of a tooth infection, especially if it shows no signs of improvement.
Sources
1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0049712/
2. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/antibiotics-before-procedures-beyond-the-basics
3. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/insurance-24-year-dies-toothache/story?id=14438171
4. http://www.wlwt.com/news/tooth-infection-causes-blood-infection-leads-to-mans-death/25868246
