Toothache

Toothache is pain in the area of your jaw and face. It is usually caused when a nerve in the root of a tooth becomes irritated. However, other problems such as infection, decay, or the loss of a tooth, can also cause toothache.

Symptoms

Toothache often starts suddenly and the pain can vary from mild discomfort to being very severe. You may have a throbbing pain in your head, jaw, and ear that is constant, or that comes and goes. The pain can be worse when you are eating or drinking, particularly if the food or drink is hot or cold. The jaw in the area of the tooth may be sore and tender to the touch. The pain can also get worse when you lie down because more pressure is put on the tooth.

Typical symptoms of toothache include:

pain when chewing, sensitivity to hot or cold food, bleeding around the tooth or gums, swelling around the tooth, and swelling of the jaw.

Possible causes of a toothache:

- Tooth decay (a cavity).
- A dental abscess (usually caused by deep decay).
- A periodontal (gum) abscess.
- An erupting wisdom tooth.
- A fractured tooth.
- A dying nerve (usually under an existing filling or crown).
- An irritated nerve due to a deep filling or crown.
- Impacted food in or around a molar.
- A leaking filling, bridge or crown.
- Decay under a crown, filling or bridge.
- Trauma to the tooth (usually from some accident).
- A sinus infection.
- Grinding of the teeth due to TMJ problems.
- A mal-adjusted bite - requiring adjustment or orthodontics.
- A failing root canal (requiring re-treatment).
- A dying nerve due to inadequate blood supply.
- Other non-specific causes, such as reversible inflammation of the nerve, referred pain, sensitivity to certain foods, and even denture sores.

Pain Relief.

When you have a toothache, usually you will need to see a dentist to get relief.

What we can do includes:

1) Repair the decayed tooth structure with a filling or crown.

2). Do a root canal if we determine that the nerve is dead.

Photo 1 In teeth with more than one root, each root has its own canal that extends from the single pulp chamber.

Photo 2 Toxins from pulp bacteria cause inflammation in the bone.

Photo 3 A file is used to clean and then shape the canals.

Photo 4 The canals are now prepared (shaped) to receive the root canal filling.

Photo 5 The dentist now packs the remaining portion of each canal with gutta-percha pieces up to the level of the pulp chamber.

3) Extract the tooth if it is hopelessly infected.

4). Adjust your bite if TMJ is the problem.

5). Put you on an antibiotic and treat your gum disease if you have a periodontal abscess.

6). Prescribe pain medication if we feel the tooth may recover on its own and is simply inflamed for some reason.

7). Adjust your denture or partial denture if it is rubbing your gums and creating a sore spot.