Various factors can cause tooth pain. However, in many circumstances, tooth pain is a sign of an underlying dental emergency that must be treated immediately to avoid further complications.
If you are suffering from tooth pain, Amity Dental Centre can help you identify the source of your tooth pain and provide emergency toothache relief.
How to Tell if Your Toothache is an Emergency?
Toothaches are relatively common, so it is essential to distinguish a non-emergency toothache from an emergency toothache. Tooth pain should be considered a dental emergency if you experience these symptoms:
You notice your tooth pain is worsening, or it doesn’t go away after a few days. This can signify that tooth decay has reached the pulp, which will not heal on its own. If the decay affects the blood vessels and nerves within the tooth, you will need to get emergency toothache relief from a dentist.
You’re experiencing extreme, visible swelling in addition to a toothache. It can be a sign of gum disease, infection, or a dental abscess. You should visit a dentist immediately to prevent the infection from spreading.
Persistent bleeding can signify serious tooth damage. In some cases, the fracture may be located below the gum line and impossible to detect with a visual inspection.
If your tooth is bleeding, you will likely need a dentist to save your tooth and provide you with emergency toothache relief, such as a root canal.
If your tooth is loose, it can be a sign of pulp necrosis (death of the interior part of the tooth), severe tooth decay, or a broken tooth. It should be considered a dental emergency if you can feel your tooth moving in your mouth.
If your tooth pain is due to a noticeable break or crack, it can indicate that the break has penetrated the dentin, pulp, or root. If this is the case, you will need immediate attention from a dentist to save your tooth and provide emergency toothache relief.
A toothache accompanied by fever, nausea, or swollen lymph nodes is a sign of a dental emergency, such as a spreading infection, often due to a dental abscess. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you must receive immediate treatment. A slight delay can lead to severe complications, such as sepsis or death.
Emergency Toothache Causes
Most people will experience some form of toothache, but severe toothache can be a dental emergency. Several factors can cause a toothache to be a dental emergency, including:
Advanced Tooth Decay
If you have untreated decay affecting the nerves and blood vessels within the tooth, you should see an emergency dentist for treatment. Tooth decay is due to bacterial growth, which can spread and lead to severe complications, such as a dental abscess.
Abscessed Tooth
A tooth abscess is caused by a bacterial infection of the tooth or gums. Abscesses will not resolve on their own. If left untreated, the infection can spread, deteriorating jawbone and gum tissue, leading to tooth loss. In severe cases, the infection can penetrate the bloodstream, causing a life-threatening condition called sepsis.
Fractured Tooth
Despite being the strongest structure in the human body, teeth can still break if subjected to trauma. If you have tooth pain after fracturing your tooth, you have likely damaged the blood vessels and nerves within the tooth. This is typically accompanied by severe pain and can also lead to pulp necrosis (the death of the tooth).
A painful tooth fracture should be considered a dental emergency, and you must see a dentist immediately to receive emergency toothache relief.
Emergency Toothache Relief Treatment Options
Depending on the nature of your toothache, your dentist may use various treatments to provide emergency toothache relief. Some of these treatments include:
Root Canal
If an infection of the pulp causes tooth pain, your dentist may perform root canal therapy and provide emergency toothache relief.
During root canal treatment, your dentist administers local anaesthesia and cleans and dries the area to prepare it for surgery. They then drill a small opening into the crown of the affected tooth before removing the pulp from the tooth’s cavity.
Once the infected pulp is removed, your dentist disinfects and fills the space with a natural latex material, then adds a temporary dental filling. You will receive a permanent filling or dental crown during a follow-up visit to restore the tooth.
Dental Extraction
If your tooth pain is caused by severe decay or a severe break and cannot be saved with a root canal, your dentist may have to remove the tooth.
During an extraction, your dentist gently uses a dental elevator and forceps to remove the tooth from its socket. They may need to make small incisions in the gum tissue, section the tooth, or remove a small amount of bone to facilitate the removal if necessary.
Abscess Draining
If a dental abscess is causing your tooth pain, your dentist may be able to drain the abscess to prevent the infection from spreading. To do this, your dentist makes a small incision in the abscess, draining the pus. They may also insert a small tube to allow for additional drainage.
Dental Filling
Your dentist may prescribe a composite dental filling if the tooth pain is caused by enamel or dentin decay. To perform a filling, your dentist removes the decayed portions of the tooth before filling the tooth. We offer tooth-coloured composite resin and porcelain fillings for a seamless smile.
Antibiotic Treatment
If an infection causes tooth pain, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics in conjunction with another procedure.
Get Treatment for Tooth Pain at Amity Dental Centre
Tooth pain can make it challenging to eat and speak and can lead to severe health complications without prompt treatment. If you are experiencing tooth pain, call Amity Dental Centre in Albany WA today at (08) 9930 2083 to schedule an oral examination.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Dental Infections –
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542165/
Tooth Decay
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/tooth-decay
Tooth Fracture
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551650/
Toothache
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6890003/
How to Drain a Tooth Abscess
https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/dental-disorders/how-to-do-dental-procedures/how-to-drain-a-tooth-abscess
How to Do an Emergency Tooth Extraction
https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/dental-disorders/how-to-do-dental-procedures/how-to-do-an-emergency-tooth-extraction
Root Canal
https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-jp/home/multimedia/video/v14430161