Knowing the Causes of Tooth Pain

by drrapisarda
Dr. Robert Rapisarda has been helping patients throughout the greater Barre area achieve healthy, beautiful smiles. This is often achieved through a combination of general and restorative dentistry procedures focused on improving total wellness.

Many patients come to the practice complaining of dental pain. Let’s look at some common causes of toothaches and how they can be treated easily and effectively.

Tooth Decay and Dental Pain

Severe tooth decay can lead to serious soreness of your teeth. This typically means more than just a standard cavity. Major tooth decay can lead to issues with biting and chewing, and it can also make it painful to eat hot or cold food items.

To treat tooth decay, fillings, inlays, onlays, and dental crowns are generally the best options.

Tooth Injury and Dental Pain

When you have a tooth that is chipped or cracked in some way, this can cause pain not unlike the pain caused by major tooth decay. Even a very small crack in a tooth can potentially lead to serious issues with sensitivity and discomfort.

As with tooth decay, dentists will typically use fillings, inlays, onlays, and crowns to address tooth damage.

Root Canal Infections and Dental Pain

A root canal infection is a serious problem in which the soft tissue within a tooth becomes infected. Most often this occurs when tooth decay or tooth injury goes untreated and the bacteria that naturally occurs in mouth reaches the pulp chamber.

To get rid of a root canal infection and avoid tooth extraction, endodontic therapy is required.

Gum Recession and Sensitive Teeth

When your gums recede, it exposes more of a tooth’s root structure to potential harm. This means an increased chance of tooth decay and tooth sensitivity, not to mention a high chance of experiencing a root canal infection as well.

Various gum grafting procedures can be used to help rebuild the gumline and replace missing gum tissue.

Poor Dental Alignment

Crooked teeth aren’t just an aesthetic problem. If you have crooked teeth, the spacing and crowding issues associated with them can lead to dental pain for a whole variety of reasons. Eating certain foods can be difficult, and less than optimal spacing can mean general discomfort with your teeth.

To address this problem, dentists often turn to orthodontic care.

Tooth Grinding (Bruxism)

Tooth grinding is the gnashing, clenching, and shifting of the teeth during sleep. This can lead to a number of problems, including tooth pain. Your teeth may chip or crack, for example, and the regular pressure exerted on your teeth can also lead to gum recession.

A combination of orthodontics, mouth guards, and lifestyle changes are commonly used to treat tooth grinding.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the extra sets of molars that grow in during a person’s late teens and early twenties. When the wisdom teeth come in crooked, they can press against the existing molars, causing severe pain and possibly even cracking the molars in the process.

When it comes to wisdom teeth, a routine extraction procedure is the best solution.

Contact Dr. Robert Rapisarda

To learn more about treating tooth pain and dental pain, it’s important that you contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. Dr. Robert Rapisarda and the entire team at the practice will work with you to ensure you receive excellent dental care treatment.

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