Treating the Most Common Causes of Tooth Pain
Most people don’t realize it, but the teeth are some of the hardest working components of the body. Multiple times throughout the day, the teeth bite and chew food to allow for eating. If an individual is suffering from tooth pain, this seemingly simple task can be extremely uncomfortable. It is important to diagnose the source of tooth pain so that appropriate restorative dental care can be provided. Restorative dentistry treatments improve the strength and health of the teeth to eliminate oral discomfort and restore a full range of oral functions. The experienced dentists at Dental Solutions offer a comprehensive range of restorative dental treatments to treat the causes of tooth pain and provide our Warsaw, IN patients with restored oral comfort.
What Causes Tooth Pain?
Tooth pain is a symptom that may develop as a result of multiple oral complications. Because there are many possible causes of tooth pain, it is important to report any oral discomfort to the dentist so that a dental exam can be scheduled. While there is a wide range of situations that can lead to tooth pain, below are some of the most common:
- Tooth decay: Tooth decay is a dental infection that breaks down healthy tooth enamel. As this protective layer of enamel becomes damaged, the sensitive inner layer of the tooth becomes exposed and the risk of tooth pain increases. Particularly in cases of advanced decay, heightened sensitivity and oral discomfort are likely to be a problem.
- Infection: An infection of the tooth (a root canal infection) or an infection of the gums (gum disease) can lead to tooth pain. Infection causes the tissues surrounding the teeth or those inside the teeth to become inflamed, which often results in pain and heightened sensitivity.
- Bruxism: Bruxism is the habit of chronically grinding and clenching the teeth. This can cause tooth pain in multiple ways. First, this habit can damage tooth enamel and expose the sensitive layer of the teeth. Second, this habit places excessive pressure on the teeth, and can cause a dull ache or pain. Finally, bruxism can affect the jaw, causing TMJ disorder, a condition that limits the functions of the temporomandibular joint.
- Chips, cracks, or other oral injuries: An oral injury can cause a tooth to become chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged. Just as when decay occurs, this exposes the dentin and sensitive tissues of the inner tooth and is likely to result in tooth pain.
Treating Tooth Pain
The exact type of treatment to address your tooth pain will depend on what is causing the discomfort and how far advanced the problem has become. Essentially, the goal of tooth pain treatment is to rebuild damaged teeth in order to restore a protective layer of tooth enamel so that the inner layer of the tooth is no longer exposed. Before this is done, the tooth will be thoroughly cleaned and any infection will be treated. Some restorative dental treatments that can address tooth pain include the following:
- Dental fillings
- Inlays and onlays
- Dental crowns
- Root canal infection
- Periodontal treatment
After examining the teeth, our experienced dentists can discuss which of these treatments is most appropriate.
Schedule an Appointment
If you are experiencing tooth pain, there is probably an underlying dental problem that needs to be addressed. The experienced dentists at Dental Solutions can diagnose and treat this problem in order to restore your oral comfort. Schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience to learn more about our restorative dentistry treatment options.