When toothaches go untreated

You may want to head to the Oral Health Clinic before letting it fester any longer – the longer you wait, the more detrimental it could be to your health. 

A local dental infection can quickly become a major health issue. Where there is dental pain, there is a problem. What would be a common tooth extraction or filling can easily become infected and spread throughout the entire mouth if treatment is delayed for too long.

Oral surgeons often see patients for assessment who do not complete it. Leaving an abscess untreated not only leads to more intense pain and swelling, but tooth loss can occur if too much of the bone is damaged. Some patients leave abscesses untreated and end up in the intensive care unit because of it.

One patient with a long-standing toothache and a repeat infection kept on taking antibiotics and postponing treatment. They ended up in the hospital with a breathing tube and several teeth removed. When something like this happens, it not only changes the patient’s life but also affects their family and friends.

Another patient was experiencing pain in her mouth for almost three years, and she put off seeing a dentist. She thought it was her wisdom teeth. The pain would last three or four days and then go away. She thought it was normal. It wasn’t until a bump developed on her cheek ­­— inside and outside with yellow discharge — that she decided to seek medical advice. Her doctor diagnosed it as a cyst that would need to be removed. However, the surgery didn’t solve her problem. 

She went to her dentist.

After a dental exam, she was told she needed a root canal. The cyst she had was actually a fistula — the result of a tooth abscess. A fistula is an abnormal passage from the apical periodontal area of a tooth to the surface of the oral mucous membrane, permitting the discharge of inflammatory or supportive material. Within three days of having the procedure, her cheek started to heal.

If you have pain in your mouth, get it checked by a dentist as soon as possible. Infections, especially in the mouth, spread much faster than in other parts of your body. Children and the elderly who have infections need to be treated within 24 hours. The longer the treatment is prolonged, the harder it is to get anesthetics to work; the cost of the procedure can go up, sedation may be required, or a specialist may be needed.

If your dentist is not available, remember, hospitals have emergency dentists on call at 1-888-436-2112.

Book an appointment

Existing patients can call (780) 407-5550 to book their next appointments, between Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

New patients can apply to become a patient at the University of Alberta's Oral Health Clinic through the intake form.