Does your toothache mean you need a root canal?

Toothaches can vary from a mild, throbbing ache, to sharp pain that occurs when you bite, to dental sensitivity, to an intense, unyielding ache that may keep you up at night. Sometimes a patient needs only to floss to relieve pain; in other situations, root canal therapy (RCT) with Dr. Novick is the only option besides extraction.

Call Celebrity Dental in Franklin Square, NY now at 516-481-1446 to book your visit with Dr. Novick. From preventive care to cosmetic dentistry, our office serves patients of all ages and with diverse dental care needs.

Types of Toothaches

Various types of tooth pain can indicate different potential problems, all of which should be addressed by your restorative dentist. Dr. Novick treats toothaches, urgently if necessary, at Celebrity Dental. Whether your tooth hurts or your child has developed a toothache, we’re here, ready to diagnose and treat the issue, so your family can get back to living life, comfortably and quickly.

Acute sensitivity: Most often, this type of pain is noticeable when consuming something very cold, like ice cream, or very hot, like coffee. The extreme temperatures cause a toothache that may feel as temporarily paralyzing as a “brain freeze.” The symptoms could indicate thin enamel, gum recession, or a cavity, crack, or abscess.

Pain only when you bite: This symptom occurs while chewing or biting, but no other time. Usually, it means that the patient has a cavity, crack, or failed dental restoration.

Stabbing aches, with relief in between: While this sensation can occur when eating or chewing, it may also happen when simply opening your mouth. The key is, the pain does not remain constant. You feel jarring, quick episodes of discomfort, due to a specific stimulus. A cavity, fracture (crack), or abscess can cause stabbing toothaches.

Consistent, throbbing pain: In some cases, the throbbing starts as mild, but without seeing a dentist, it can escalate into a debilitating pain that keeps you from working and sleeping. When a toothache keeps you from normal activities, you’ll need to visit Dr. Novick immediately. The pain could signal a significant infection or abscess. Without treatment, infection can enter the bloodstream to cause serious complications.

Molar aching: If you’re in your late teens or adulthood and have never had your wisdom teeth removed, an ache in the back of your mouth could indicate the need for wisdom tooth extraction. Sometimes these large teeth ache when erupting; other times they become impacted, or stuck beneath the gums. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause significant pain and may become infected.

Symptoms That Indicate You May Need Root Canal Therapy

A root canal procedure is necessary when a tooth develops infection inside its core. This usually results from a cavity or crack that hasn’t been treated early, so damage has progressed through the enamel and dentin layers of the tooth.

You may need a root canal if you experience:

• Pain when chewing, biting, or otherwise applying pressure to the tooth
• Pain after encountering extreme temperatures, as with ice or hot coffee; the pain continues after the cause is removed
• Swollen, tender gums around the tooth
• A small pimple-looking bump on gum tissue near the tooth
• Darkening or other discoloration of the tooth

Without treatment, toothaches lead to more advanced problems, which come with a higher cost of treatment, in almost all cases. So, if you experience tooth pain, call to schedule an appointment with the dentist. Don’t postpone making an appointment.

Emergencies Welcome

At Celebrity Dental, Dr. Novick is pleased to treat emergency dental cases. So that you’re ready should a dental emergency arise, program our number into your phone now, under “emergency dentist.” You can also call our Franklin Square, NY dental office at 516-481-1446 to schedule your appointment.