Do You Have A Throbbing Tooth?
When teeth are healthy and working correctly, you hardly notice them as you eat, chew, and go about your day. However, when you have a toothache, there’s almost nothing you can do to take your mind off of it. Teeth don’t hurt for no reason. If you have a painful, throbbing tooth, it’s almost certainly a sign of something wrong. And that characteristic throbbing pain typically means there is an infection.
Inside the tooth, there are a lot of intricate workings. The innards of the tooth, filled with nerves and arteries, are collectively known as the pulp. When this pulp becomes infected, it begins to swell, and since there is no extra room to expand, the pressure builds, and the pain increases.
But how did the infection occur in the first place? Sometimes it’s hard to tell. A cavity is a clear indication; however, a blow or injury to the mouth may cause trauma to the tooth surface, roots, or the ligaments that hold it in place. This trauma can also damage the nerves or arteries within the tooth, eventually leading to infection. When pain is present, we’ll confirm the diagnosis with an X-ray of the affected area.
In advanced stages of infection, the only way to save the tooth is with a root canal. We open the tooth and remove the infection, thereby also removing all the pain. We sterilize the interior of the tooth and the entire root canal filled with a biocompatible material. Finally, the tooth is sealed and strengthened with a porcelain dental crown.
We urge all patients experiencing a toothache to investigate the cause and seek treatment immediately. Whether it’s a throbbing tooth or only a minor pain, the earlier we can intervene, the better chance to save the tooth.
