What are the symptoms of a tooth infection?

If a cavity is left untreated for too long, the tooth can become infected or abscessed. This is one of the reasons why visiting a dentist is imperative to your oral health. Although many infected teeth do show symptoms, there may be some cases when you may not feel anything at all. It is recommended that you visit a dentist every 6 months or more often if medically necessary. Your dentist will let you know how often you should visit.

Infected teeth will often show the following symptoms: 

• Throbbing & persistent toothache 
• Sensitivity to hot & cold foods 
• Fever 
• Swelling of the face and/or gums 
• Pain or pressure when chewing 

If you have any of the symptoms above, it is recommended that you see a dentist as soon as possible. This will increase your chances of being able to save the tooth and eliminate the need for extraction. However, if you have fever or swelling that does not go down or if you have any type of trouble breathing or swallowing, we recommend that you visit the emergency room immediately. This could mean that the infection has spread to other areas of your head or neck.

Depending on the severity of the infection, our dentist may prescribe you antibiotics or decide to have the tooth extracted. If the tooth can be saved it might require a root canal (endodontics) or gum treatment (periodontics). If you have any questions regarding tooth infections or show any symptoms, please contact us today for an appointment!

Am I a candidate for dental veneers?

The first thing many people will notice about you during an initial meeting is your smile. When an individual feels as though his or her smile is not up to par, it can create self-consciousness and insecurities regarding their overall appearance. If you are looking for a way to enhance your smile, porcelain veneers may be right for you! However, we encourage you to visit our dentist in Los Angeles to discuss the possibilities of getting veneers as well as any other cosmetic procedures that can be used to create your new, beautiful smile.

Porcelain veneers can be used to improve:

• Stained teeth 
• Tooth discoloration 
• Gaps between teeth 
• Misshaped or misaligned teeth 

Porcelain veneers are customized to fit your smile for an all-natural look. Our dentist will use his cosmetic experience to make sure that the proper shape and color is applied when placing the porcelain veneers. If you would like to get veneers, it is important to have good oral health, free of tooth decay and gum disease for successful placement. If you have any type of decay or have gum disease, please address this with our Los Angeles dentist first.

Call us today for an appointment and be on your way to getting the smile you deserve!