If the discomfort is severe, you should contact a specialised dentist or a paediatric dentist as soon as possible. The temptation is sometimes to ignore it and hope it goes gone. In general, it is preferable to obtain professional dental care as soon as possible.
This is due to the fact that therapy is frequently significantly more successful, and your tooth is more likely to be saved if you seek treatment sooner rather than later.
Dental decay is the most common cause of tooth pain. This is a condition that will not improve unless treated. Other causes include an abscess, a fracture, a leaking or broken filling, or gum disease.
Teeth grinding or clenching can also cause tooth pain. This is a condition known as bruxism, and it puts a lot of strain on the teeth and gums. Bruxism can cause considerable dental damage and, in the worst-case scenario, tooth loss.
If you or your child has a toothache, it is best to see a paediatric dentist right once.
All of these elements have one thing in common. They harm the tough outer layer of the tooth’s enamel. The tooth’s enamel, which ordinarily covers it. Bacteria will enter if the enamel is damaged.
These bacteria can readily eat away at the dentin beneath the enamel, resulting in the formation of a cavity. If the cavity is not filled, the bacteria will continue to damage dentin until they reach the centre tissue known as the pulp.
When an infection penetrates the pulp, it causes toothache, at least at first. This is due to the presence of neurons, blood arteries, and connective tissues in the pulp.
People may believe that their toothache has gone away because the bacteria have killed the pulp, causing the discomfort to disappear.
When, in fact, the infection is still present and will continue to infect the tooth as well as the surrounding structures. This is when a dental abscess forms, and it is one of the reasons why tooth discomfort of any kind should be addressed.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
Pain is, of course, the most prominent symptom. When you try to bite down on the impacted tooth, you may experience a persistent or acute, stabbing pain. Swelling is one of the other symptoms. The gum around the tooth may also turn red rather than a pleasant healthy pale pink. The infection might give a bad taste as it attempts to drain from the tooth. If the infection is especially severe, you may get a headache or fever.
When Should You Visit a Dentist or a Pediatric Dentist?
- If your toothache lasts more than a day.
- If your child’s toothache is very bad, you should see a paediatric dentist as soon as possible.
- Especially if you’ve noticed swelling or your youngster is feeling ill.
- It may have an impact on your overall health.
It is critical to take your child to a paediatric dentist as soon as he or she exhibits any further symptoms, such as facial swelling. Alternatively, if they are getting a fever.
It has the potential to progress into a dangerous condition that could endanger your or your child’s overall health. Please do not put off seeking therapy.
Delaying therapy may result in the infection spreading throughout the body, including the brain. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria can spread to any part of the body. What began as a minor and easily treated cavity could turn out to be life-threatening.
What Happens When You Go to a Pediatric Dentist?
A brief medical history will be required when you visit the paediatric dentist. They will need to be aware of any prescription medications that are being used. A paediatric dentist will inquire about the onset of the condition and the symptoms it is creating. The strength of the pain, as well as what makes it feel better or worse.
A thorough examination will allow them to determine the specific cause, and they will almost certainly take a dental x-ray of the impacted tooth. An x-ray will indicate the amount of the infection and how far it has gone. X-rays are tremendously helpful in planning treatment so that the paediatric dentist can start your child feeling better as soon as possible.
What Kinds of Treatments Are There?
The particular treatment for a toothache will be determined by its severity and aetiology. If the discomfort is mild, it could be caused by a cavity in a tooth that only needs to be filled. However, the infection frequently reaches the pulp and necessitates root canal therapy or tooth extraction.
Root Canal Treatment
Contrary to popular assumption, root canal therapy should not be any more painful than getting a filling. If you or your child is in discomfort, rest certain that you or your child will feel considerably better later. Root canal therapy removes all of the dead or dying nerve tissue in the pulp chamber by cleaning out the diseased pulp.
A professional dentist or paediatric dentist will be able to see the amount of root canals that need to be cleaned out as well as their shape using dental x-rays.
This is significant because different sized teeth have a varying number of root canals, which can be highly curved at times. It is critical to properly clean out these root canals in order to eradicate the bacterial infection.
After the region has been cleaned and disinfected, they may decide to apply topical antibiotics to ensure that the infection is completely eradicated. The tooth will be temporarily filled in order for it to be repaired at a later time.
Typically, restoration entails placing a dental crown directly over the tooth. This is done because it is possible that it was heavily corroded and had lost a significant portion of its original construction.
Root canal therapy is an excellent treatment for tooth preservation. Root-treated teeth can often persist for many years, if not a lifetime, with no complications.
What Happens When a Tooth Becomes Infected?
If a tooth develops a severe infection that has progressed to an abscess, meaning it has extended beyond the dental roots, the tooth may need to be extracted. This is always a last resort, although it may be essential to drain the abscess. This is why a paediatric dentist usually advises patients to get treatment as soon as possible.
If you do need a tooth out, they can always chat to you about various replacement options. Depending on your and your child’s age, this may include employing the most recent and long-lasting dental implants.
Take Action Now If You or Your Child Have a Toothache
If you or your child has a persistent toothache, make an appointment with a compassionate and friendly dentist right away. A paediatric dentist will always try to see patients who are in discomfort as quickly as possible. Many people can give you guidance on how to deal with pain over the phone until you can get to them.
