Recommendations: is it possible to go to the dentist with herpes?

The question of whether it is possible to go to the dentist with herpes worries those who suddenly have a toothache, but there are rashes on the lips. Herpes is a well-known viral disease that has a long history and is characterized by many forms.

The herpes virus is present in the body of 90% of the entire population of the planet. In some people it is dormant, while in others it constantly manifests itself, especially after provoking factors such as colds and decreased immunity. As a rule, people are especially worried about herpes on the lips, since it is impossible to hide it, and the white blisters attract a lot of attention, and the person feels awkward.

There are a number of cases when herpes on the lips can bring not only emotional discomfort, but also serious troubles. One such case is toothache due to herpes on the lips. Few people know what to do in such cases, because you want to stop the pain in your tooth, but you don’t want to go to the doctor with affected lips. Today we will talk about whether it is possible to go to the dentist with herpes if the toothache is very severe and you do not have the strength to endure it.

Is it possible to treat teeth with herpes on the lips?

If you have the herpes virus, visiting the dental office is prohibited. Doctors refuse to perform surgery due to the high risk of infection spreading to the injured area, severely weakened immunity and the possibility of transmitting the virus to other patients. In such a situation, you need to initially cure the viral infection, and only then begin dental treatment. If the pain is severe, then the earliest possible treatment period is 7 days from the moment the blister forms and a crust appears on it. To hold on to the bubble until you see the dentist, you can use rinses prepared according to folk recipes from medicinal herbs and painkillers. Herpes is treated by contact methods using gels, ointments, applications, and creams.

Treatment and removal of teeth for herpes: contraindications

If a dentist refuses to see you due to a herpes infection, you should not be angry with him.

Herpetic infection is indeed a serious contraindication for routine dental treatment. If you need to cure simple caries or another non-acute problem, especially if we are talking about tooth extraction, be sure to postpone going to the dentist until the virus is completely cured.

The fact is that herpes signals a decrease in your immunity. It can be detected by the characteristic newly formed spots on the lips; you will feel discomfort.

If there is an infection, the dentist’s manipulations in almost 100 percent of cases lead to its further spread throughout the oral cavity and even to the nose. Often during treatment, microtraumas of the mucous membrane occur, including from an injection of anesthetic. This can cause the blistering rash to spread. In addition, due to the nature of the disease, it will be very difficult for the patient to keep his mouth open, because the skin becomes tense and the painful sensations intensify.

Herpetic stomatitis can be a serious consequence, the treatment of which requires much more effort, time and financial costs.

Is it possible to treat teeth with herpes on the lips?

Questions often arise regarding the possibility of dental treatment for herpes on the lips. Traditionally, after 7-10 days, not even traces remain at the site of the disease; there is no need to rush without good reason. To relieve inflammation, the use of medications and folk remedies is practiced; the choice depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the recommendations of the attending physician. A “cold” on the lips goes away quickly and painlessly, without complications, reflection in the mirror is the main problem, the person feels awkward in society. Qualified dentists have a negative attitude towards treatment during exacerbation of the disease.

weakened immune system;
colds, consequences of a viral disease;
emotional exhaustion, tendency to depression;
menstruation;
abuse of strong drinks, smoking;
poor nutrition, lack of vitamins;
pregnancy;
intoxication of the body;
physical and emotional overload.

What to do if herpes appears after a visit to the dentist?

Let's figure out what to do if you develop a herpetic infection after visiting the dentist. It often happens that the stress suffered and the immunity weakened by treatment become provocateurs for a dormant virus, the presence of which you did not even suspect. But you should also not exclude the risk that you contracted herpes in the dentist’s office. Below is a list of symptoms, the presence of which should alert you after visiting the dentist:

Subtle pain in the lip area, which then turns into burning and itching.
The appearance of redness and swelling (not to be confused with the effects of anesthesia).
Formation of ulcers, so-called vesicles.

A provoking factor for the disease can be stress from a planned trip to the dentist, because most people experience anxiety or even fear before visiting the dentist.

To make an accurate diagnosis, you need to visit your doctor, and to avoid such unpleasant consequences of going to the dentist, you should try to choose only good clinics and trusted specialists.

So, if there is an exacerbation of herpes on the lips, a visit to the dentist is undesirable. Even though there are some exceptions, you should remember that going to the dentist with a virus carries significant risks and remains a last resort.

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Is it possible to go to the dentist with herpes on the lips - important recommendations

Often, the dentist refuses to carry out routine dental treatment for herpes on the lip. An exception may be critical situations that cannot be delayed. In this case, the specialist uses antiviral drugs and informs the patient about the possible consequences.
Often, the dentist refuses to carry out routine dental treatment for herpes on the lip. An exception may be critical situations that cannot be delayed. In this case, the specialist uses antiviral drugs and informs the patient about the possible consequences.

Treatment of herpes before visiting the dentist

Before treating your teeth, it is advisable to conduct a course of therapy to eliminate herpes.

Use ointments and gels for local action on the source of infection - Acyclovir or Vivorax, which accelerate the healing of wounds on the mucous membranes. To increase the therapeutic effect of ointments, it is better to use them in combination with medications for oral administration.

Antiviral applications are effective, preventing further spread of the disease and drying out ulcers.

If, after filling teeth in the oral cavity, the first signs of a viral fever appear on the lip, doctors recommend medications to prevent the disease. They are taken one day before the start of procedures at the dentist and two days later. It is known that a number of factors contribute to the appearance of characteristic bubbles.

Among them are frequent hypothermia, emotional and psychological stress, and a decrease in the body’s defenses. Following the recommendations of an immunologist will make it possible to strengthen the body’s immune system. After all, dental treatment with weak immunity has a negative impact on the health of the jaw organs.

“Acute herpetic stomatitis (cold)”, author: dentist Korobeynikova O.A.

Cases when a patient finds himself in the dental chair with a cold on the lips are quite common. As a rule, in such cases, the doctor postpones dental treatment unless there is acute pain, since the herpes simplex virus without treatment can spread further in the oral cavity, penetrate the lymph nodes, then into the blood and internal organs, the brain. This can cause herpetic bronchitis, pneumonia and other infectious diseases.

What is herpes?

Herpes simplex, synonym - vesicular herpes. Herpes simplex often affects the skin. After an incubation period (3-4 days), bubbles with a diameter of 0.1-0.3 cm appear on the skin against the background of a limited, slightly swollen pink spot. Before the rash, patients feel a burning and itching of the skin at the site of the future rash. Subsequently, the blisters open, forming erosive surfaces covered with a white coating in the form of aphthae, which heal without scars after 6-8 days.

The usual localization is the skin of the face: the circumference of the mouth, the red border of the lips, nose, less often - the skin of the cheeks, eyelids, ears. Often, skin rashes are accompanied by an increase in body temperature to 38-39°C and symptoms of general intoxication.

Diseases caused by the herpes simplex virus are divided into primary and secondary (recurrent) herpes infections.

Primary herpes infection usually occurs when a person first comes into contact with the herpes simplex virus. Most often this occurs in early childhood under 5 years of age. Typically, in 80-90% of those initially infected, the disease occurs in a latent form; in 10-20% of those infected, clinical manifestations occur in the form of a general infectious syndrome with fever and other signs of intoxication. Primary herpes can manifest itself as damage to the skin and mucous membranes, including the conjunctiva or cornea of the eye.

Secondary (recurrent) herpes infection occurs at any age after primary herpes. It occurs with a mild general infectious syndrome and, as a rule, against the background of diseases that reduce immunity: somatic diseases and other infectious diseases, as well as under the influence of a number of unfavorable factors: hypothermia, overheating, UV radiation, endocrine changes, emotional stress.

Recurrences of herpes simplex can occur with varying frequencies. If they appear once every few years, the rashes are moderate and fixed in the same place, then this is a good prognostic sign. If relapses occur more often, this indicates a defect in the immune system and the need for its correction.

There are three degrees of severity of the disease with acute herpetic stomatitis - mild, moderate and severe.

With mild severity, there are no symptoms of intoxication of the body. The resulting aphthae quickly epithelialize; there are usually no new rashes.

Moderate severity occurs with symptoms of severe intoxication - increased body temperature to 38-39°C, malaise, weakness, lack of appetite, nausea. On the swollen, hyperemic oral mucosa there are single or grouped aphthae. Intense salivation, pain and enlargement of regional lymph nodes appear. Recovery occurs in 2-3 weeks.

The severe form of the disease is characterized by all signs of intoxication, adynamia, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Body temperature rises to 38-39°C. The oral mucosa is hyperemic, swollen, covered with a large number of aphthous elements, which can merge, forming large erosions. The lips, mucous membrane of the cheeks, hard and soft palate, tongue, and gingival margin are affected. With insufficient oral care, catarrhal gingivitis turns into ulcerative, and with the addition of fusospirochetous microflora, a transition into ulcerative-necrotizing gingivostomatitis is possible.