How a General Dentist Can Help With Tooth Pain

How a General Dentist Can Help With Tooth Pain from Tinley Park Smiles & Implant Dentistry in Tinley Park, ILA general dentist can help if you find yourself dealing with tooth pain. As uncomfortable as these sensations can be, they are your body’s way of letting you know something is wrong. It is typically one of the last symptoms of unaddressed dental issues to show up.

Some of the reasons why you might experience toothaches include:

  • Tooth infection
  • Decay
  • Damaged dental restorations
  • Teeth grinding
  • Abscessed tooth
  • Tooth damage

Tooth pain can manifest in different ways. It can be constant, throbbing, or sharp. The pain can be excruciating enough to make it impossible to get any sleep or focus on anything. Toothaches can be accompanied by headaches, fever, inflammation around a tooth, or a weird taste in the mouth.

Anyone who has tooth pain that lasts more than a couple of days, is excruciatingly painful, or is accompanied with a fever should seek the help of a general dentist immediately. The most painful toothaches are often signs of a tooth infection, which requires immediate dental care.

How our general dentist treats tooth pain

Toothaches can sometimes be managed with over-the-counter medication, but that only provides a temporary solution. Remember what we said about tooth pain earlier? It is a sign of an underlying dental issue, and the only permanent solution is to treat that problem.

General dentists start treatments for toothaches by examining their patients to determine the cause of their discomfort. This usually includes closely examining their teeth and gums. The patient’s teeth, gums, jaw, throat, tongue, sinuses, neck, nose, and ears are carefully examined during the visit. Tests like X-rays might also be used to detect the source of the pain.

The most common causes of tooth pain are tooth decay, gum disease, and damage to teeth structures. Once the source of the pain is identified, the dentist might recommend treatments like:

1. Fillings

A dentist might recommend conventional fillings or composite ones if their patient’s pain is caused by cavities. These are tiny holes that form on teeth due to acids produced by oral bacteria eating away at teeth structures.

These treatments typically involve injecting patients with local anesthetics so they do not feel pain as the dentist removes decayed material from their teeth. The cavity is then filled up with a filling, which serves as a barrier that prevents acids from expanding the cavity and irritating the dentin.

2. Crowns

Crowns are often recommended for severely decayed teeth that need something more than fillings to hold them together and protect them from acids in the mouth. The procedure also involves removing decayed material from the tooth. A crown is placed on it afterward.

3. Root canals

This procedure is suggested for infected teeth or teeth with compromised pulp chambers due to decay or trauma. It involves removing the tooth’s pulp, disinfecting the area, and sealing it with gutta-percha. Root canals allow dentists to save severely decayed or damaged teeth.

4. Extractions

Extractions are a last resort when it comes to treating tooth pain. They are recommended when teeth are too damaged to be saved.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: General Dentist in Tinley Park, IL

There is no point dealing with toothaches for prolonged periods

Treating tooth pain is often as easy as identifying the cause and treating it. That is often enough to bring your pain to an end. Give us a call or stop by our Tinley Park clinic if you’re dealing with toothaches.

Request an appointment or call Tinley Park Smiles & Implant Dentistry at 708-675-7427 for an appointment in our Tinley Park office.

Related Posts

3 Questions To Ask A General Dentist

Curious about what you should be asking your general dentist when you visit? Read on to learn more. Visiting a general dentist for regular check-ups is essential for maintaining good oral health. By learning more about their oral health, patients can prevent potential problems and be more aware of changes that may require attention.Going to…

3 Common Procedures Offered By A General Dentist

General dentists can perform dozens of different procedures, so they may have a long list of offered services. A general dentist focuses on the prevention (and fast restoration) of oral health issues. However, they may also provide more extensive procedures, such as teeth replacement, when necessary.Some general dentistry services are more common than others. Specifically,…

The Benefits Of Routine Dental Visits At A General Dentist

Visiting a general dentist on a routine basis is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your oral and overall health. Routine dental visits allow your dentist to identify and treat any oral health issues before they become more intense and expensive problems in the future. This blog will explore the…