Toothache Specialist

Varinos Dental Associates

Cosmetic, Implant, and General Dentists located in Newburyport, Peabody, & Winthrop, MA

Did you wake up this morning with a painful or overly sensitive tooth? Are you having trouble biting or chewing as a result? If you answered yes to either of these questions, it’s important to seek the help of a professional dentist as soon as possible. At Varinos Dental Associates of Newburyport in Newburyport, Peabody, Haverhill, and Winthrop, Massachusetts, Frank Varinos, DDS, Jemin Kim, DMD, and the team regularly diagnose and treat toothaches using safe, effective means. Request your appointment today by calling your nearest office or clicking the online booking tool.

Toothache Q & A

What is a toothache?

A toothache is any pain that you feel in or around a tooth. In most cases, a toothache points to a specific problem with your teeth or gums. However, toothaches can also develop as the result of referred pain — pain caused by a problem elsewhere in your body.

Toothaches usually aren’t life-threatening, but you should take them seriously. Delaying treating a toothache caused by decay could lead to further infection and the need for an extraction.

Listen to your body and don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at Varinos Dental Associates of Newburyport if your pain doesn’t go away on its own.

What are the symptoms of a toothache?

The symptoms of a toothache vary from person to person and depend on the underlying cause of the discomfort. However, telltale signs include:

Throbbing pain
Swelling around one or more teeth
Fever
Sharp pain when you bite down
Increased sensitivity

You might also experience tenderness or achiness around your affected tooth or a burning, shocklike sensation while chewing.

What causes a toothache?

Toothaches can develop for a variety of reasons. In most cases, they’re the result of untreated tooth decay. Other common causes of toothaches include oral abscesses and impacted teeth.

For example, if your wisdom teeth start coming in, but become stuck in your gum tissue or jawbone, it can prevent the tooth from fully erupting. This process often causes pain, general discomfort, and swelling.

How is a toothache treated?

Before treating your toothache, your Varinos Dental Associates of Newburyport provider performs an oral exam, asks you about the symptoms you’re experiencing, and takes a series of oral X-rays. These steps help your dentist pinpoint the source of your discomfort.

If your toothache is the result of decay, your dentist might recommend a filling or crown. This involves your dentist removing the damaged portion of your tooth, cleaning it thoroughly, and applying some sort of restoration like a crown or cap. They might also prescribe antibiotics to prevent further infection.

If your dentist can’t find the source of your pain, they will often refer you to a specialist for further diagnosis and treatment.

Toothaches are common, but they’re also relatively easy to treat. If a toothache is having a negative effect on your quality of life, make an appointment at Varinos Dental Associates of Newburyport by calling the office nearest you or clicking the online booking tool today.

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