Combined Root and Gum Problems

Sometimes it can be difficult to detect exactly where pain in your mouth is coming from. And with the combination of symptoms you’re experiencing, it may be even harder to decipher which oral complication could be happening. Typically, when an infection is taking place, it has either started in the pulp of the tooth or in the gum tissue. The infection spreads from one location to the other, or vice versa, making it complicated to pinpoint from where the infection originated.

Symptoms

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, they should never be ignored:

  • Dull or intermittent discomfort
  • Tooth sensitivity due to temperature
  • Tooth sensitivity due to pressure
  • An ache from a group of teeth or single tooth
  • An ache from your sinuses

These symptoms can suggest a variety of dental issues, including root canal and gum problems. Disregard the pain and it sometimes will go away on its own. However, this usually signifies that the pulp in your tooth has died. With the nerve no longer functioning properly, there will be the absence of pain. If your condition has gotten this far, it can become far more serious.

How Infection Occurs

Once the pulp inside your tooth has become severely infected, these stages of infection occur:

  • The disease moves through the end of the root and outside the tooth.
  • Infection then spreads to the periodontal ligament, which is vital for anchoring the tooth to the surrounding bone and gum tissue.
  • Gum tissue is infected and can cause periodontal disease or a gum abscess.

In reverse, the infection begins in the gums and goes through these stages:

  • The gums have developed periodontal disease due to plaque buildup.
  • Infection travels through passageways in between tooth roots.
  • Infection then spreads to the pulp inside your tooth.

Prognosis of Saving Your Natural Teeth

Your dentist will want to do everything they can to save your natural tooth or teeth. But sometimes, this can be challenging due to the progression of infection. An infection that begins in the tooth root has a better chance to be treated than an infection that began in the gums. If the gums are infected severely enough with periodontal disease, it is likely that most of the bone has been eroded away. In this case, saving the tooth may not be possible.

It’s important to note that root canal and gum problems do not get better as time passes. Immediate care is essential for stopping the infection in its early stages.

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Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Testimonials

See What Patients Say About Us

  • "A warm and welcoming dental practice with a top notch team. I live in another city now and genuinely miss visiting Madrona Family Dental because of my fantastic conversations with Kristen!"
    - Kelly Stevens
  • "As someone who has always hated going to the dentist, I can say Dr. Tarr and his hygienists are the best out there. I hated getting my teeth cleaned because it was always painful, but the dental hygienists at the office are so good I am never in pain and it’s over before I know it."
    -Meagan W.
  • "I have some very specific needs for dentistry that have caused me tremendous issues in the past, but Dr Tarr and his amazing staff are by far the best dental experience I've ever had in every way."
    - Anonymous
  • "Dr. Loren Tarr and his entire staff are the most courteous and professional team, front office and back, I have ever encountered. The dental care provided by Dr. Tarr and his hygienists is second to none. My teeth and gums are healthier than before I started coming here (thanks to their encouragement to WaterPik). There was a mistake made by a lab once when I was getting a decades-old crown replaced; Dr. Tarr made sure to set everything right. (And the crown is amazing! It feels like a real tooth.) Madrona Family Dental gets my highest recommendation."
    - Laura P.