Time is of the essence when it comes to getting to the root of tooth pain causes. If you’re experiencing tooth pain, simple acts like chewing, drinking, and even sleeping can feel like a chore, regardless of what over-the-counter medication you take for some relief.

Don’t wait to reach out to your general dentist or our team at Endodontic Specialists of Colorado when you have tooth pain. The sooner you get help, the sooner you’ll experience relief from your tooth pain. In the meantime, read on for information on the three most common tooth pain causes and some steps you can take to ease the discomfort.

Cracked Teeth

Whether your tooth cracks from an injury or general wear and tear, you might experience a variety of symptoms ranging from erratic pain when you chew your food to sudden pain when your tooth is exposed to very hot or cold temperatures. Oftentimes, the pain may come and go and your dentist may have difficulty locating the tooth causing the discomfort. If you experience these symptoms or suspect a cracked tooth, it’s best to see an endodontist as soon as possible.

Endodontists specialize in saving cracked teeth and will customize treatment to the type, location, and extent of the crack. The sooner your tooth is treated, the better the outcome. Once treated, most cracked teeth continue to function as they should, for many years of pain-free biting and chewing.

Infection, or Abscessed Teeth

You may have an abscessed tooth or infection if your mouth or jaw is aching, you experience pain while chewing, or you have swollen gums. These are just a few of the symptoms that can occur when the pulp (the soft tissue inside the root canal of a tooth) dies, becomes inflamed, and is left untreated. The resulting infection in or around the root of the tooth may or may not be painful, but any ongoing symptoms should be tended by an endodontist who specializes in treating infected teeth and pulp.

An endodontist will typically treat your abscess with a root canal procedure or endodontic surgery. This involves removing the bacteria from the empty canals within your tooth, cleaning, shaping and filing the root canals, and sealing the empty space. Then, after some time to be certain the treatment was successful, you’ll visit your dentist who will put a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After the dentist restores it the tooth will continue to function like your natural teeth.

Traumatic Dental Injuries

Traumatic dental injuries often occur as a result of an accident or sports injury. The majority of these injuries are minor and involve chipped teeth (yes, still painful, but easier to treat than other injuries). While it’s less common to dislodge your tooth or have it knocked completely out, these injuries are more severe. Treatment depends on the type, location and severity of each injury. Regardless of the extent of the injury, your tooth requires immediate examination by a dentist or an endodontist. Sometimes, your neighboring teeth suffer an additional, unnoticed injury that can only be detected by a thorough dental exam.

Endodontists are dentists who specialize in treating traumatic dental injuries. With their advanced skills, techniques and technologies they often can save injured teeth.Most endodontists offer tremendous flexibility in accommodating emergency cases, including weekends in some instances. You’ll have relief from your pain and likely save your tooth, so act as quickly as possible.

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When you need endodontic treatment, call a team of specialists you can trust. Our team here at Endodontic Specialists of Colorado will be happy to talk through any concerns you have regarding your treatment and help you on your way to a healthy, beautiful smile.

With offices located in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, convenient care is only a phone call away. Contact us today to schedule your evaluation!