If you are experiencing pain from a dental problem, chances are the problem has already escalated to a level that will cause you lots of inconvenience and cost lots of money. Pain is a great indicator of dental problems, but it is also a late-in-the-game indicator. Most dental problems, if caught early, are easily managed. When dental pain is present, a tooth may already have an abscess and require extensive dental work. It never pays to wait for pain to seek treatment. Dental Problems that can Begin without Pain Many dental problems often provide no initial pain signals, including:

• Cracked teeth
• Chipped teeth
• Cavities
• Loose crowns or fillings
While the patient receives no clue as to what is happening, the area is rapidly decaying as bacteria build up. Potential for Spread of Infection If patients wait until a nerve is impacted and they’re feeling pain, they’ve generally waited too long. Nerves are the pulp at the tooth’s center. Here, the blood vessels and nerves from the rest of the body enter the tooth. If decay reaches the pulp, infection can spread through the circulatory system to other parts of the body. If infection reaches the chamber running down the root of the tooth, or the root canal, the patient’s only two options are a root canal procedure or tooth extraction. A host of illnesses and conditions have been linked to silent dental problems, including: • Heart Health – A high degree of plaque build up and gum disease are linked to many heart problems, including:
o Clogged arteries
o Heart disease
o Heart infections
• Infections in the Body – Infection of the teeth and gums can spread to other parts of the body, including the lungs, causing serious complications.
• Improper Nutritional Intake -- Missing teeth and dental pain can cause difficult and painful chewing, and thus do not encourage consumption of healthy foods.
• Pregnancy -- Gum disease is connected to low birth weight and early births. Bacteria in the bloodstream from gum infection can travel into your baby’s bloodstream, making the fetus ill and even causing pre-term labor.
Routine Dental Checks and Cleanings are the Best Protection The best protection from silent dental conditions, and from allowing dental health to impact the rest of your body is to visit your dentist’s office regularly—every six months—for a professional examination and cleaning. In this way, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that any dental problems will be proactively identified and treated. If you are in the Phoenix, Mesa or Scottsdale, Arizona region, and are concerned about the health of your gums and teeth, please contact the dental team of " Drs. Lesueur and Dodaro today at 480-834-6991. Dr. Lesueur and Dr. Dodaro provide thorough dental exams, professional dental cleanings and a host of other dental techniques and procedures to keep your teeth their healthiest.