Toothaches

What Causes a Toothache?

Toothaches vary from minor to severe, but whatever the intensity, the patient wants to feel better as soon as possible. Dr. Zhang at A To Z Dental offers the best in diagnostics and restorative solutions to relieve the pressure, throbbing pain, and sensitivity to pressure and temperature of the common toothache. What causes a toothache, and how can your dental team help?

Typical toothaches
They have various symptoms and many causes. Often, a patient comes to A To Z Dental with:

  • Throbbing pain
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold beverages or a sharp pain when biting or chewing
  • Swelling of the jaw
  • Redness and/or a pimple at the gum line
  • Drainage that is bad-tasting
  • Fever
  • A general feeling of malaise
  • Persistent bad breath

Toothache first aid
Dr. Zhang urges her patients to contact the office as soon as any symptoms arise. The sooner she diagnoses the problem and treats it, the better the person will feel and the better the outcome of any treatment will be.

Additionally, she recommends these simple first aid interventions to bring temporary relief before seeing the dentist:

1. Take over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen for discomfort. Do not use aspirin.
2. Ice the jaw, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, to reduce swelling.
3. Rinse the mouth with warm salt water to control drainage.

If the toothache comes from oral trauma, save any tooth fragments, and get to A To Z Dental as soon as possible.

Toothache treatments
Dr. Zhang examines aching teeth and performs X-rays to determine the type and the extent of the problem. Commonly, the individual has a deep cavity and requires a tooth-colored filling or even a dental crown. If the tooth is infected, root canal therapy removes the diseased inner pulp and seals and crowns the tooth to preserve and strengthen it.

Unfortunately, sometimes a tooth is so extensively damaged it cannot be saved. In that case, Dr. Zhang extracts the tooth and plans a replacement for the patient in the form of fixed bridgework, a partial denture or dental implant, today's longest lasting and most beneficial tooth replacement.

If You Are Suffering From Toothache Pain And Would Like To Learn More About The Treatment Options At A To Z Dental, Please Call One Of Our Offices Today To Schedule An Appointment!
Richton Park (708) 481-2288 & Flossmoor (708) 957-2030

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Monday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed