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TOOTH
PAIN
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Listed
below is a general guideline on what to do when you have tooth pain.
SYMPTOM: Momentary hot or cold sensitivity to foods or drinks.
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May
not be a problem. You may have experienced some minimal gum recession
exposing sensitive portions of your teeth. Or you may be clenching your
teeth while you sleep and the following day the teeth are more sensitive.
There could also be a hormonal component to the sensitivity.
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WHAT
TO DO: Try using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth. Brush and floss
carefully and completely. If this doesn't help, call us to check with an
x-ray and other testing procedures.
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SYMPTOM:
Sensitivity to hot or cold foods after dental treatment.
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Dental
work may cause temporary nerve sensitivity.
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WHAT
TO DO: Wait 5 to 7 days. If the pain persists or worsens, call us to
evaluate any nerve (pulp) damage.
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SYMPTOM:
Lingering (20-60 minutes) pain after eating hot or cold foods.
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This
usually means the nerve has been irritated or damaged somehow.
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WHAT
TO DO: Root canal treatment will likely have to be performed.
Spontaneous pain - especially if it wakes you up at night - can become an
obvious symptom of nerve damage.
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SYMPTOM:
Sharp pain when biting down.
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Biting
pain alone may indicate a cracked tooth. A crown is usually needed and often
the nerve has been involved. If this biting pain is accompanied by cold
sensitivity, an emergency root canal problem has developed.
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WHAT
TO DO: Call us for an immediate evaluation and/or root canal treatment.
Take an over-the-counter pain medication to stop the pain. Airplane flights
or dramatic altitude changes can worsen your symptoms.
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SYMPTOM:
Constant and severe pain with pressure, swelling of gums, and sensitivity to
touch.
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Your
nerve is completely abscessed, causing the teeth and surrounding bone to
become infected.
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WHAT
TO DO: Call us immediately to save the tooth with root canal treatment.
Even strong pain medication may not help at this stage.
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SYMPTOM:
Any pain, gum boil, or swelling that happens in a tooth that has previously
had an old root canal.
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Tooth
may be re-abscessing due to an undiscovered root or inadequate seal of the
canals or a fracture of the tooth.
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WHAT
TO DO: See us for preventative antibiotics so the problem doesn't
worsen. Most likely the old root canal will have to be re-done. Or
surgical correction may be necessary. If the root is fractured then tooth
will be lost.
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