Toothache

Quality Kirkwood, MO dental care that treats your toothache at the source

Toothache Kirkwood, MO: it is a commonly occurring dental plight that we all hope we can avoid. Luckily, Kirkwood, MO dentistry has come a long way from the image of the swollen-cheek patient with gauze tied around their head when it comes to toothache diagnosis and treatment. Just as with any other dental care you receive in Kirkwood, MO, it is important that you seek to receive treatment in a comfortable environment with a skilled dentist you can count on.

If you are suffering from a toothache in Kirkwood, MO, Plaza Dental Center has the skills and solutions to give you relief. Armed by a team of caring and talented dental providers in the Kirkwood, MO area, we bring excellent dental services that work to target dental ailments like toothaches for all dental patients in the Greater Kirkwood, MO area. Get more information about the dental care we provide in the Kirkwood, MO area or schedule your toothache treatment today by simply calling 314-361-1818 or requesting an appointment online.

Toothache Symptoms

A toothache is a painful experience, but exactly what that pain feels like can vary–as well as the other symptoms–and are based on the cause of the toothache. If you suffer from a toothache in Kirkwood, MO, you may feel one or more of the following symptoms:

• Pain – throbbing, sharp, stabbing, dull, or aching pain that can be constant, intermittent, or only when you bite or eat
• Tingling sensation
• Swollen gums surrounding the tooth
• Red appearance around the affected area
• Headache
• Fever
• Pus or drainage near the infected tooth
• A foul taste or smell coming from the tooth

Kirkwood, MO Causes of Toothache

A toothache can have various causes. Our teeth are actually made up of soft tissue on the inside, filled with a bundle of nerves and blood vessels. The nerves inside our teeth are extraordinarily sensitive, so any amount of inflammation or irritation can produce excruciating toothache pain.

• Cavities and damaged fillings – When cavities first form, they are minute–barely visible or detectable. However, when cavities are unaddressed, they can cause a toothache as the cavity continues to grow. Over many years, fillings placed over cavities have the potential to crack or shift out of place which also exposes the cavity and leads to a toothache.
• Chipped and cracked teeth – When force of an object during sports or other types of accidents can cause a tooth to break, chip, or crack. The broken tooth leaves the sensitive inner tissue exposed, leading to  a toothache in Kirkwood, MO.
• Dental abscess – An abscess is an infection that starts in the root of the tooth and can develop to affect the jaw, gums, and mouth around it. An abscess-related toothache is often accompanied by swelling, heat, pus, or even a fever. Abscesses often form due to untreated tooth decay
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• Bruxism – Bruxism is the dental term for grinding or clenching of  the teeth. Some people unknowingly grind their teeth in their sleep or when stressed. Habitual grinding causes the nerves inside the tooth to become irritated, causing a toothache.
• Exposed tooth roots – When gum disease is severe enough, the gums can recede to such a degree that tooth roots may become exposed. The exposed roots are sensitive and lead to a Kirkwood, MO toothache.
• Wisdom teeth – It is common for wisdom teeth to become impacted as they begin to come in. This applies pressure on other teeth and can cause toothache pain in a combination of different teeth depending on how the teeth are oriented and affected.

Sometimes the cause of a toothache isn’t even a dental issue. You could be suffering from a toothache that does not come from a dental condition like those listed above. Instead, you may have a toothache that comes from something like a sinus infection putting pressure in the top back part of your mouth, certain types of headaches, diabetes, and other conditions. In those cases, you should first seek the proper medical treatment for the underlying condition.

Toothache Treatments Kirkwood, MO

The best defense against toothaches is preventative care, including practicing oral hygiene and safety during potentially dangerous settings such as playing sports. Unfotunately, though, even those of us who brush and floss religiously can fall victim to a toothache at one point or another. While sometimes a toothache can be resolved without treatment by a dental professional, there are several effective treatments your Kirkwood, MO dentist can provide that will help you experience relief from your toothache pain.

Fillings and Crowns. For a toothache caused by a growing new cavity or a broken filling, your Kirkwood, MO dentist can address the issue with a new tooth filling or a crown, which sits over the top of the tooth. Both work against a toothache by providing the sensitive tissue within the tooth a layer of protection against contact with air, saliva, and food.

Scaling and Planing. A toothache related to gum disease or exposed roots can be addressed with tooth scaling and root planing. Plaque on the surface of our teeth builds up and hardens, becoming tartar. This allows bacteria to flourish on the roots and other parts of the tooth the roots and other parts of the tooth become the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. This often leads to infection and tooth decay. Together, scaling and planing work to thoroughly clean tooth surfaces and block and prevent gum disease-related toothache pain.

Root Canal. A toothache caused by an abscessed tooth can be treated by your Plaza Dental Center dentist with a root canal procedure. In a root canal, the infected soft tissue inside the tooth is removed. Your dentist will drill a small opening in the top of the tooth and use it to remove all of the infected soft tissue from the top of the tooth down into the root. This toothache treatment method preserves the look of the natural tooth while removing the infected areas and protecting your gums, jaws, and bloodstream from infection too.

Extractions. If your affected tooth is significantly damaged to the point that it cannot be restored, we may need to use an extraction procedure to treat your toothache. This Kirkwood, MO toothache treatment is also used for wisdom teeth. Some extractions are brief and simple procedures that require nothing more than a local anesthetic, while others are more involved procedures that require complete oral surgery. Your Plaza Dental Center Kirkwood, MO toothache treatment team can perform the extraction you need, whether it is for a tooth that is beyond repair or a wisdom tooth that has no room to grow.

Other Toothache Remedies. In some cases, your toothache dentist in Kirkwood, MO may identify that your tooth pain may benefit from additional remedies. An infection may be managed by taking antibiotics. A toothache due to grinding or from an injury could be helped by wearing a mouth guard. Following your dentist’s recommendations on removing wisdom teeth can prevent various toothache causes.

Plaza Dental Center is ready to provide any general, restorative, or cosmetic dental care you need, such as:

• Dental Emergency
• Gum Contouring
• Broken Tooth Repair
• Invisalign®
• Tooth Pain Relief
• Periodontal Treatment
• Composite Fillings
• Tooth Pain
• Gingivitis Treatment
• Dentist Near Me

Dental Care for Your Toothache Kirkwood, MO | Plaza Dental Center

Quality dental treatment for your toothache in Kirkwood, MO begins by} identifying the source of your pain and discomfort. Plaza Dental Centers talented Kirkwood, MO team of dental care professionals offers families across the Kirkwood, MO area quality dental care, including a range of treatment strategies to address toothache pain. Relief from toothache pain is possible with the proper dental care. When you experience a toothache that causes you pain you can’t ignore, come to us for help by calling 314-361-1818 or requesting an appointment online right away.