woman in blue shirt with toothache against isolated white backgroundMaybe you’ve been there before. You wake up one morning with pain radiating from your tooth. You felt just fine the night before. What happened? Sometimes toothaches appear suddenly without explanation. Today, our team at Metropolitan Dental Care explores 5 common causes of toothaches and explains how we can treat these symptoms at our Lone Tree, CO dental practice.

#1: Tooth Decay

When the tooth enamel is compromised, you are at a higher risk for tooth decay. When plaque deposits are not regularly removed, they feed on starches and sugars in the oral cavity. As a result, acid is produced, which begins to erode the enamel. Once tooth decay reaches the inner layers of a tooth, it can lead to extreme sensitivity to heat, cold, and pressure.

Small cavities can be effectively repaired with dental fillings. However, larger areas of decay may require custom restorations, such as inlays, onlays, or dental crowns.

#2: A Dental Abscess

If bacteria accumulates inside the pulp chamber, a dental abscess can occur. As pressure builds up, the infection attempts to drain through the very end of the tooth root. In turn, the jaw can become severely swollen if the condition is left untreated. In many cases, a dental abscess is accompanied by pain and tenderness.

Once the pulp of a tooth has been affected, root canal therapy will be necessary to save the tooth. During this process, your doctor removes the infected tissues and nerves from the pulp chamber and fills the tooth with a special dental material.

#3: A Fractured Tooth

Sometimes, a cracked tooth is immediately obvious. Other times, a fracture may be present for quite some time before you start to exhibit symptoms. For example, once a crack reaches the pulp of the tooth, you will likely experience a toothache. In some cases, a vertical root fracture occurs. Extending from the tip of the root to the crown of the tooth, this type of crack may cause pain or discomfort when chewing.

Mild to moderate chips and cracks may be repairable with dental bonding, porcelain veneers, or dental crowns. However, if the tooth’s prognosis is questionable or poor, a dental extraction may be necessary.

#4: Dental Impaction

Ideally, all of your teeth will erupt into their proper positions without causing any problems. Sometimes, however, a tooth may become either partially or fully impacted in the jawbone. This can lead to a number of dental issues, including pain, swelling, and the formation of cysts within the jawbone. If you are experiencing a toothache, then impaction could be the culprit.

If impacted teeth begin to cause issues, they will need to be removed. In fact, most dentist recommend extracting wisdom teeth proactively to prevent these problems from occurring.

#5: Gum Disease

In the early stages, periodontal disease is generally painless. However, as the condition progresses, some patients may begin to experience pain and sensitivity as the supporting structures erode. This can result in toothaches or pain around the gums.

To treat toothaches caused by gum disease, periodontal procedures will be required. At Metropolitan Dental Care, we have a board-certified periodontist on staff. Dr. Mike Norouzinia can assess your teeth and gums and determine an appropriate treatment for your needs. Mild gum disease can be treated with nonsurgical procedures, such as scaling and root planing. More advanced cases may require surgical intervention.

Contact Metropolitan Dental Care to Learn More

For over 30 years, our practice has served Denver, Lone Tree, Centennial, Parker, and Highlands Ranch. We take great pride in providing comprehensive dental services for the entire family. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment with your Denver dentist, call us at 303-534-2626 or contact us online.