Frequently Asked Questions About Remedies for Pain and Infected Teeth

At Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio, Drs. Rick Schwartz, Rick Davis, and Zac Liang specialize in treating damaged teeth. The inner part of a tooth is called the pulp and consists of blood vessels, nerves and other tissue. Decay that penetrates the tooth and reaches the pulp can cause pain and infection. Similarly, cracks and traumatic injuries can also expose the pulp, leading to similar problems. 

In addition to providing treatment for pain and infection, our doctors may recommend home remedies to ease pain, swelling, and other symptoms. These steps are adjuncts, not substitutes for professional treatment.

What medications can I take to help with the pain?

We may recommend Advil, Tylenol, Motrin IB, or other over-the-counter medications to ease pain and inflammation prior to your appointment. You may also be instructed to take medications for a day or two following treatment at our office. Be sure to take these drugs as instructed.

What about antibiotics?

Antibiotics are drugs that may be prescribed before or after your appointment, if there is swelling present, to fight  infection. It may sometimes be prescribed as a “premedication” before treatment if you have certain medical conditions. To effectively address your pain, we need to evaluate its source, true nature, and other relevant factors.  

What are some rinses that I can make at home? 

For certain types of surgery we may prescribe an antimicrobial mouth rinse before or after surgery.  In most cases we will recommend salt water rinses for a few days.  Commercial mouth rinses are not recommended because they may irritate the surgical site.

How does treatment at your office help?

Home remedies are adjuncts to therapeutic care and may be used to provide temporary symptom relief and help the healing process. Procedures such as root canal therapy treat the source of the problem. We offer a true and lasting relief of symptoms by removing the infection and source of pain to preserve the tooth and avoid tooth loss.

Pain is a signal that something is wrong and needs attention. For trusted guidance and expertise to ease your concerns, contact Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio. Our San Antonio, TX office can be reached at (210) 497-6699.

Dr. Richard Davis, DDS

Richard D. Davis, DDS, graduated from high school in Japan, attended the University of Washington dental school, and joined the Air Force as a general dentist in 1978. He completed the Air Force one-year AEGD residency, a two-year Advanced General Dentistry Residency, and a fellowship in biomaterials at the University of Indiana. Dr. Davis was a clinical instructor, research director, and lecturer at the Air Force. He has published many scientific articles and research papers, and has lectured on many topics. Following retirement from the Air Force in 1999, he completed the graduate program in endodontics at the University of Oregon in 2001, and joined Dr. Schwartz and has been in private practice in endodontics since then.

Dr. Richard Schwartz, DDS
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Richard S. Schwartz, DDS, graduated from the University of Minnesota dental school in 1977. He was a restorative dentist for 19 years: Early in his career, he attended a two-year general dentistry residency while in the US Air Force, and then did a combination of private practice, teaching, and dental materials research before entering endodontic post-graduate training in 1996. He has authored over 100 articles and abstracts in scientific journals and lectured extensively in the US and in 21 other countries, including 12 times at the American Association of Endodontists’ national meeting. Since 1998 Dr. Schwartz has been in full-time private practice in endodontics in San Antonio, TX, and has practiced with Dr. Davis since 2001. He was a founding member and first secretary/treasurer of the International Association of Endodontics. He is also a member of the American Dental Association and International Association of Dental Specialists.

Dr. Zhangrui Liang, DDS, MS

Dr. Zhangrui “Zac” Liang, DDS, MS, grew up in China and has been in the US since 2015. He attended dental school in China and did his endodontic training at UCLA, where he also received a Masters of Science degree. He has practiced with Dr. Davis and Dr. Schwartz since 2022.

Dr. Wisam Sakr, DDS, MS

Dr. Wisam Sakr has nearly 20 years of dental experience. He graduated from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry and further honed his skills through an AEGD program at Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. He also earned a Specialty and Master’s degree in Endodontics from West Virginia University Health and Science Center. Dr. Sakr is a dedicated member of the American Association of Endodontics and American Dental Association. He is committed to providing top-notch dental care with the latest technology in a compassionate and professional setting.