Toothaches
You Can Live Without The Pain
Pain when you eat, drink, or speak. Difficulty sleeping. Trouble concentrating. Toothaches, whether minor or severe can cause significant difficulties in your daily life. The cause can also vary from the simple to the complex. At one end of the spectrum, you may have sensitive teeth, and sometimes all that’s required is a change in the type of toothpaste that you use.
On the other end of the spectrum is a roots-deep infection that will require you to undergo a root canal. At their worst, toothaches can prevent you from truly living your life. Whatever the reason for the symptoms you’re experiencing, your team at Velux Dental offers effective treatment for a toothache in Salt Lake City, UT.
Common Causes Of Toothaches
- Tooth decay
- Broken tooth
- Abscessed tooth
- Prolonged teeth grinding
- Root canal infection
General Toothaches
Because toothaches can be caused by many factors, we always examine the tooth thoroughly to determine what the real source is. You could have a crack in the tooth that isn’t visible with the unaided eye. We also take X-rays to see what’s going on beneath the tooth enamel. Through dental imaging, we’re able to see any cavities that may be forming. Dental cavities are caused by bacteria stemming from poor dental hygiene as well as the overconsumption of sugary foods.
If you have a cavity, we’ll access the infected area by making a hole in your tooth enamel. We’ll then clean the inside of the tooth and place a filling inside it to reinforce it. If the extent of the cavity has weakened your natural crown, we may need to put a new dental crown on the tooth to ensure lasting strength. With the infection removed, and through the help of over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers, your toothache should quickly subside!
Root Canal Infections
When an infection reaches deep down into your tooth roots, it can be very painful. This is because these narrow channels or canals are where all the living tissues—the nerves and blood vessels—of your tooth are found. With such deep infections, repairing the tooth with a standard filling is out of the question. You need a more intensive treatment called a root canal. The root canal procedure or any treatment dealing with the inside of a tooth always begins with some form of sedation dentistry.
Once you’re comfortable, a small opening will be made in the crown of the infected tooth. The diseased tissue will be cleared from the tooth canals, before the root canals are sanitized and restructured to make room for gutta-percha, a special filling material used exclusively for root canals. After this, we usually recommend placement of a new crown to fortify the tooth, as natural crowns can become brittle after root canals.
When Treatment Is Ineffective
We always strive to preserve a natural tooth, though in some cases, a severely infected or damaged tooth may not be treatable. When this happens, extraction is the best course of action to relieve your toothache and protect your overall dental health, as it will keep any infection from spreading. With the exception of wisdom teeth, most extracted teeth should be replaced. This is due to several factors. Jawbone tends to recede where there are gaps in your smile. You may find eating and speaking awkward after tooth loss. You may also be embarrassed by that gap in your smile.
To avoid all of those complications, we recommend some form of tooth replacement. Dentures and bridges are popular options that have been in use for many years. Patients who are looking for a dependably stable choice generally find it in dental implants. Dental implants look, feel, and function just like real teeth—and they’re built to last. They never develop decay, so they’re never likely to cause you a toothache. Sometimes tooth pain is the beginning of a new opportunity. Dental implants give you a second chance at a healthy tooth and a complete, attractive smile.
