General Dentistry

What Happens When You Go to the Dentist for a Toothache?

Jul 1 • 2 minute read

A woman grabbing her cheek because of toothache pain.

 

When a toothache sets in, it can be uncomfortable, frustrating, and a little scary if the dentist’s office isn’t your favorite place to be. Learning about how your dentist treats a toothache and knowing what to expect, however, will make it much less of an anxiety-inducing experience. In this post, we describe the typical toothache treatment path for our patients in Turlock to help those who haven’t had a toothache before or haven’t had one in a long time. 

First, Your Dentist Becomes a Toothache Detective

The first step in any toothache treatment plan is to isolate the source of the pain. Toothaches can be the result of decay, injuries, infections, and many other circumstances. Some are obvious, and some are not. So, first we put on our detective hat and figure out where the pain is, when it began, and how much it hurts. From there, we can do a dental exam and possibly take some digital x-rays to learn more. 

Next, Your Dentist Decides the Best Treatment Path for your Aching Tooth

The three most common sources of tooth pain are:

  • Cavities
  • Tooth infections
  • Dental injuries

For cavities, dentists remove the decay and prepare the tooth for a filling. Dentists typically use a composite (tooth-colored) filling to stop the decay and restore the form and function of the affected tooth. In cases of severe decay, the tooth may have to be extracted. 

For tooth infections, a root canal and/or antibiotics may be needed. During a root canal, a procedure that is not nearly as uncomfortable as people have been led to believe, infected pulp is removed from the tooth and the tooth is sealed. This is a way to stop the damage caused by bacteria that’s gotten into the soft tooth material below the enamel. 

For dental injuries, bonding, crowns, and dental implants are among the approaches a dentist may use to fix broken or missing teeth. 

Finally, Your Dentist Helps You Prevent Future Toothaches 

Sealants and fluoride varnish treatments can help prevent future toothaches by preventing decay in hard-to-brush places like your back molars. Your dentist should also make sure you get regular cleanings and exams scheduled moving forward. Regular visits to the dentist and daily brushing and flossing are among the greatest prevention tools for future surprise toothaches. 

Thanks for Reading!

We encourage our patients to contact us immediately if they’re experiencing a persistent toothache. There are very few cases where dental pain gets better without treatment, and early treatment can avoid high costs and worse issues down the road. 

If you enjoy our blog posts and want to learn more about different aspects of dentistry, please like our Facebook page to see the newest posts. 

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Christopher and Anne Thompson, DDS
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
Creating Beautiful Smiles in Turlock

Drs. Christopher and Anne Thompson offer quality dental implant, family, and cosmetic dentistry services in Turlock, CA. Make us your family dental center today!

Christopher and Anne Thompson, D.D.S.
795 East Olive Ave. Ste. A Turlock, CA 95380
Phone: (209) 632-8866 URL of Map