Severe Dental Pain: Causes And Treatments

Many people experience toothaches from time to time and because toothache pain is often minor, it can sometimes be managed simply by taking an over-the-counter analgesic such as ibuprofen. Other types of dental pain may not be so amendable to over-the-counter pain medications, and because of this, you may need to visit your family dental professional to find out why your tooth hurts so much. Here are some common causes of severe dental pain and some helpful treatment options.

Severe Dental Pain Causes

Tooth infections such as abscesses can cause severe, throbbing dental pain. This is because many tooth infections originate in the center of the tooth where the pulp, blood vessels, and nerves are found. Once bacteria invade the pulp of the tooth, excruciating dental pain, jaw pain, and even neck pain and a headache can develop.

If a dental abscess is not treated at the first sign, the infection can quickly spread and you may be at risk of losing the tooth. Another cause of severe dental pain is getting a seed, piece of popcorn, or other food particles stuck between your teeth or under your gum line. This can cause inflammation and bleeding, and if the food particle is not removed, severe pain may develop and you may be at risk for developing soft tissue damage or infection. Sinus infections can also lead to severe dental pain in your top teeth.

Treatments For Severe Dental Pain

Your dentist will perform an oral examination to determine if you have an abscessed tooth, however, if your examination is inconclusive or if your dentist determines that the infection is hidden deep within the pulp, a bitewing x-ray will be taken. The dentist may want to further confirm the presence of an infection by performing a CT scan, which is more sensitive in picking up images of soft tissues inside the mouth. If the imaging tests reveal an infection, antibiotics will be prescribed.

Once the infection has cleared, the pain may subside. If you still have pain despite completing the entire course of your antibiotic therapy, your family dental professional may refer you to an endodontist to determine if you need a root canal to treat your pain.

If an embedded food particle is causing your severe dental pain, the dentist will attempt to floss it out, use a dental probe to remove it or use a water or air syringe instrument to loosen it. If your dental pain is caused by a sinus infection, your dentist may ask you to see your primary care physician for further testing and treatment.

If you develop severe dental pain, see your family dental professional as soon as possible. Once the source of your pain has been identified, your dentist will recommend treatment options to ease your symptoms. 

For more info, contact a local family dentist

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