Tooth Pain

Common Sources of Oral Pain:

• Tooth decay with inflammation of nerve (pulpitis)
• Tooth abscess
• Infection causing facial swelling (cellulitis)
• Tooth fracture or crack
• Bone and gum disease / infection

Pain and swelling related to infection from teeth or other sources can occur suddenly and progress rapidly. Early evaluation, antibiotics, and immediate treatment are the only ways to resolve the pain.

Management of Pain:

• Call us immediately for evaluation
• You may take Ibuprofen or Tylenol for temporary pain relief.
• Definitive treatment should be initiated as soon as possible to prevent complications.
• Antibiotics may be prescribed if there is evidence of active infection.
• Tooth extraction is recommended for severely decayed teeth, significant infection, advanced bone loss, or fractures beyond repair.
• Root canal treatment may be possible to preserve tooth if the nerve is inflamed or non-vital and tooth can be easily restored.
• A simple restoration may be adequate if there is moderate decay and the nerve is only mildly inflamed.
• The use of antibiotics alone does not cure pain or infection associated with teeth. Tooth should either be removed or treated endodontically as appropriate as soon as possible.