Have a Toothache? Here's Why You Should See Your Dentist About It

A toothache can be painful or a minor inconvenience. However, tooth pain can also be a sign of a serious issue. Explore the causes of tooth pain, and why seeing a dentist to identify the source of your pain can protect or restore your oral health and function. Staten Island Aesthetic & Implant Dentist in Staten Island, NY, offers comprehensive restorative and cosmetic dentistry treatment to help you achieve a healthy, beautiful, and functional smile.

Causes of Tooth Pain

• Debris — In some cases, tooth pain or sore gums can be as simple as debris lodged between the teeth or gums. Trapped food or plaque can cause irritation and even lead to infection, decay, or gum disease if not addressed.
• Tooth Decay — Tooth decay or cavities can cause discoloration and even pain. In some cases, the decay can also infect the tooth roots and gums.
• Gum Disease — Gingivitis or periodontitis can cause tooth pain. If left untreated, gum disease can cause receding gums, loose or missing teeth, tooth decay, and even tooth loss.
• Infection — An infection in the tooth or gums can be serious. If the infection reaches the tooth roots, antibiotics alone cannot eliminate the bacteria. Infection can become serious, putting your oral and overall health at risk.
• TMJ Disorder — Issues with the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) can cause pain in the jaw, headaches, and even toothaches.
• Fractured Tooth — Damage to the tooth can cause pain, and it can also lead to infection and decay if not treated.

How Are Toothaches Treated?

Depending on the cause of your toothache, there are a variety of treatments to address the issue and eliminate your pain. We will first perform an exam at our Staten Island office. In some cases, we will take X-rays. This allows us to get a full picture of your oral health and see issues that might not be visible. Once we identify the issue, we can develop a custom treatment plan to help eliminate the pain and restore your oral health and function. Treatment may include:

• Cleaning — Plaque and debris can be addressed by a professional cleaning. A dental hygienist can remove hard-to-reach places to remove debris or plaque that may be causing irritation and pain.
• Decay Treatment — If tooth decay is causing your pain, removing the decay and treating the tooth with a filling or dental crown is often the first course of treatment.
• Root Canals — When bacteria reaches the tooth roots, antibiotics alone are not enough to eliminate the infection. A root canal is often needed to address this issue. We will partner with a trusted dentist or endodontist to perform the root canal, and our Staten Island office can craft a custom dental crown to protect the tooth.
• Restoration — For a damaged tooth, a dental crown is often needed to prevent bacteria from entering and causing an infection. It also preserves the tooth structure so you can eat and speak without pain.
• TMJ Treatment — If your pain is caused by TMJ disorder, treatment is not only needed to eliminate your pain, but to prevent issues like excessive wear and joint or tooth damage.
• Extraction — Tooth extraction is a last resort. We will do everything we can to preserve the tooth structure. However, if a tooth extraction is needed, a dental implant and custom restoration can fill in the gap to restore your oral health and function.
• Periodontal Treatment — Periodontal treatment at our Staten Island practice can eliminate gum disease to east your pain and prevent further complications.

Have Tooth Pain?

If you are suffering from tooth pain, it is always best to have a dentist determine the cause. This can prevent more severe issues from developing and ease your pain sooner. If you have a toothache, contact our Staten Island dentist's office and request a consultation today.