The most common toothache cause is a dental cavity. Unfortunately, a dental cavity can slowly and quietly grow without much dental pain. However, there is usually some hot and cold sensitivity and/or sensitivity to sweets before a patient experiences a bad toothache. It can come from a new tooth cavity or from an area where a filling has fallen out. If the tooth dies, a dental abscess can form and cause inflammation, swelling and dental pain that can be very dramatic.
A fractured tooth is when part of the tooth crown falls completely off and exposes the sensitive underlying dentin. If the fracture does not go completely through the tooth, the toothache cause is from a cracked tooth. In this case the pain only occurs when biting down on the tooth. The two parts on either side of the crack separate when the patient bite and then snap back together when the biting force is released. An exposed tooth root has nerve endings that hurt when eating hot and cold foods but the pain usually goes away immediately after the food is swallowed.
Tooth grinding can also be a toothache cause. Patients with tooth grinding have hot and cold sensitive teeth because of the flexing that happens when teeth are ground from side to side. Teeth are not designed to flex so they melt at the areas of bending above the gums. This area can become very sensitive and develop into a bad tooth problem. Notches (abfraction) can develop in the roots and this causes receding gums.
If you are experiencing dental pain and want the toothache cause identified and treated by a dentist. Dental pain can be from other areas of the body such as from angina, sinusitis, TMJ, trigeminal neuralgia, earaches and some cancers. Regardless of the source of your pain, the dentists at the Atlanta Dental Group PC are dedicated to their patients' good heatlh and well being. You are welcome to join our family of patients. Because we know that toothache pain can be terrible, our Financial Manager will do everything she can to assist you in making financial arrangements to help you obtain your needed dental care. If you would like to schedule a free dental consultation with Atlanta Family Dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, call 404-874-7428 for your appointment.