Conditions
Toothache
Toothache can be caused by a number of different issues but most of the time the pain itself is felt because the pulp of the tooth is inflamed.
About This Condition
These tissues are blood vessels and nerves.
The pulp of the tooth is located at the centre of each tooth and is made of delicate tissues.
Here are some reasons why the pulp can get inflamed:
- Broken filling or loose filling
- Bacterial infection
- Tooth decay
- Receding gums
- A cracked tooth
In some occasions, the cause of toothache is other than the pulp. Other reasons a toothache can be felt are the following:
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Sinus inflammation
- The eruption of wisdom teeth
- Ulcers on the gums
A toothache pain can range from mild discomfort to severe pain.
- If the pain is intermittent (it comes and goes) or is triggered by eating and drinking, your tooth is most likely in a beginner to intermediate state of distress.
- When the pain becomes more constant, sharp, throbbing or if it wakes you up at night, the tooth is likely to be more severely affected.
In order to be able to evaluate the gravity of the situation, an x-ray and an intra-oral examination are necessary.
If the toothache is a result of tooth decay, the decay will be removed and replaced with a filling. Depending on the size of the decay, your tooth can be repaired with a composite white filling or a porcelain (inlay / onlay) filling.
If your toothache is due to a broken or loose filling, the damaged filling will be replaced, removing any decay during the procedure.
If the decay is so deep that it entered the dental pulp, a root canal along some antibiotics might be prescribed.
