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1867 NW Civic Drive Gresham, OR 97030(503) 661-6613
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Posts for tag: tooth pain

The Type of Tooth Pain You Have Could be Telling You What's Wrong

By Smile Designers
September 01, 2018
Category: Oral Health
Tags: tooth pain  
TheTypeofToothPainYouHaveCouldbeTellingYouWhatsWrong

As with the rest of the body, tooth pain is an indication that something’s wrong. While the exact cause requires a dental exam, the location, quality and duration of the pain could narrow the possibilities. With that in mind, here are 3 types of tooth pain and what it might be telling you.

Sensitivity. Pain or discomfort when you eat or drink cold foods or bite down could mean you have a small area of decay in the tooth, a loose filling or an exposed root surface from gum recession. Dental work to repair a decayed tooth or filling could alleviate the pain; in the case of gum recession, you may need to reduce overaggressive brushing or seek treatment for periodontal (gum) disease, the two main causes of the condition.

Dull or lingering pain. A dull ache in the rear sinus area could indicate a problem with a back tooth — they share the same nerve pathways as the sinuses, so you may be feeling referred pain. In the case of lingering pain after eating or drinking something hot or cold, there may be decay within the inner pulp chamber of the tooth that’s damaging or even killing the nerve tissue. If so, a root canal treatment might be in order.

Sharp pain. That sudden, excruciating pain when you bite down could mean you’re experiencing advanced decay, a loose filling or possibly a cracked tooth. If the pain seems to radiate from the gums — and they’re swollen and sensitive — you may have developed an abscess brought on by periodontal (gum) disease. In all these cases, appropriate dental treatment like decay removal and filling, root canal treatment or plaque removal may be necessary, depending on the cause and extent of the problem.

Regardless of what kind of pain you’re feeling, you should see us as soon as possible — in many situations waiting will only make the problem worse. The sooner we discover the cause, the sooner we can begin the right treatment to solve the issue and alleviate your pain.

If you would like more information on the causes and treatment of tooth pain, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Tooth Pain? Don’t Wait!”

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Only a Dental Exam can Identify the Root Cause of Your Tooth Pain

By Smile Designers
March 30, 2018
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: tooth pain  
OnlyaDentalExamcanIdentifytheRootCauseofYourToothPain

A toothache means you have tooth decay, right? Not necessarily — your pain could be signaling a number of potential causes. Determining where, how much and how often it hurts will help us find out the cause and apply the appropriate treatment.

A single symptom, for example, can mean many things. A twinge of tooth pain as you consume hot or cold foods might indicate localized tooth decay easily repaired by a filling. But it could also mean the tooth's root surface has been exposed as a result of periodontal (gum) disease — aggressive plaque removal and maybe even gum surgery might be necessary. Or it could be a sign of inner pulp decay: in this case you'll likely need a root canal treatment to save the tooth.

Pulp decay can also announce itself with a very sharp and constant pain radiating from one or more teeth. You shouldn't hesitate to see us for an examination — even if the pain goes away. Pain cessation most likely means the nerves in the pulp have died. The infection, however, still exists, so you'll still probably need a root canal treatment.

If you notice severe, continuous pain and pressure around a tooth, particularly about the gums, you may have a localized, inflamed area of infection called an abscess. An abscess can be the result of gum disease, but it might also stem from a foreign body like a popcorn husk, getting stuck below the gums. We'll need to conduct a complete dental examination to determine the cause and how to treat it.

Finally, a sharp pain when you bite down could mean many things such as a loose filling or a fractured (cracked) tooth. The latter especially requires immediate attention to save the tooth.

These are just a few of the possible causes behind mouth or facial pain. Although all of them are serious, a few are true dental emergencies and can't wait if we're going to save a tooth. The sooner you see us, the sooner we can help relieve the pain, minimize any damage and avert disaster.

If you would like more information on treating tooth pain, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Tooth Pain? Don't Wait!”

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Find and Treat the Actual Source of Tooth Pain to Relieve it

By Smile Designers
August 23, 2017
Category: Oral Health
Tags: tooth pain  
FindandTreattheActualSourceofToothPaintoRelieveit

Determining which of your teeth is causing your toothache isn’t always easy — or even if it’s a tooth at all. The pain could be coming from a tooth, the gums, or both. Only a thorough dental examination can pinpoint the exact cause and best course of treatment.

If a decayed tooth is the problem, the pain may be coming from nerves and other tissue deep within the tooth’s pulp. The symptoms could be dull or sharp, constant or intermittent, specific to one area or spread out. It’s even possible for the pain to suddenly subside after a few days. This doesn’t mean the infection has subsided, but rather that the infected nerves have died and no longer transmit pain. Pain can also radiate from the actual source and be felt somewhere else — the pain in your sinuses, for example, could actually originate from an infected back tooth.

If the source is periodontal (gum) disease, the infection has begun in the gum tissues. As they become more inflamed they lose their connectivity with the teeth, bone loss occurs and the gums may “recess” or draw back. This exposes the tooth root, which without the protective cover of the gum tissues becomes highly sensitive to changes in temperature or pressure. As a result you may encounter sharp pain when you eat or drink something hot or cold, or bite down.

Treating these issues will depend on the actual infection source. An infected tooth often requires a root canal treatment to clean out the pulp and root canals of dead or infected tissue, fill them with a special filling, and seal and crown the tooth to prevent future infection. If the source is gum disease, we must manually remove the bacterial plaque causing the disease from all tooth and gum surfaces to stop the infection and allow the gums to heal. In advanced cases, surgical procedures may be necessary to repair damage and encourage new gum and bone growth.

Where dental disease has spread from tooth to gums or vice-versa, you may need treatments for both areas to address your overall condition. Whatever the treatment course, we can put an end to your tooth pain and restore health to your teeth and gums.

If you would like more information on the sources of mouth pain, please contact us today to schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Confusing Tooth Pain.”

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Archive:

  • 2019
      • December (1)
        • Dakota Johnson and Her Missing Tooth Gap Sparks Online Debate
      • November (3)
        • Pros and Cons for Flossing Before Brushing and Vice-Versa
        • The Major Benefits of Early Childhood Dental Visits
        • 3 Things You Need to Know Before Getting a Crown Restoration
      • October (3)
        • Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
        • See How Well You're Removing Daily Plaque with a Plaque Disclosing Agent
        • Here's What You Need to Know About Teeth Whitening
      • September (3)
        • Know the Facts Before you Go Abroad for Dental Care
        • How Shawn Mendes and Miley Cyrus Got Their Stellar Smiles
        • That Painful, Irritating Feeling Could be Burning Mouth Syndrome
      • August (3)
        • See Your Dentist if You Have one of these Top 3 Oral Problems
        • Cleaning Around Implants Crucial to Protecting Them from Loss
        • Why Alfonso Ribeiro Is Grateful for Root Canal Treatment
      • July (3)
        • Advancing Gum Disease Requires Thorough Treatment to Control it
        • Baby Your Teeth and Gums During Pregnancy
        • 4 Affordable Ways to Transform Your Smile for a Once-In-A-Lifetime Moment
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        • Singer Dua Lipa Sees the Wisdom in Postponing Tour Dates
        • 3 Things to Watch Out for to Protect Your Oral Appliance
        • Consider an Effective and Affordable RPD for Teeth Replacement
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        • Stop Wearing Your Dentures While You Sleep!
        • Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
        • Your Teenager not Ready for an Implant? Here's What We Can Do Instead
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        • Why Bear a Chipped Tooth?
        • A Dental Exam Could Uncover an Eating Disorder
        • Lady Gaga Wasn't "Born This Way?"
      • March (3)
        • We can Fix a Smile Marred by Absent Front Teeth
        • A Low Sugar, High Fiber Diet will Help Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy
        • Preventing Dental Disease Starts with Assessing Your Unique Risk
      • February (3)
        • NBC Star Delivers a Message about the "Perfect" Smile
        • Implant-Supported Dentures Provide Better Fit and may Stop Bone Loss
        • Timing is Everything When Replacing a Teenager's Missing Tooth
      • January (3)
        • Flossing Daily Around Implants will Help Prevent Losing Your Bridge
        • Bobby Bones Dances His Way to Dental Damage
        • Practice the Dental Care Basics to Ensure a Healthy Smile
  • 2018
      • December (3)
        • Stop Smoking to Reduce Your Risk of Gum Disease
        • Avoid Implant Failure by Watching Out for These Mouth Problems
        • New Front Teeth for a Teenaged David Duchovny
      • November (3)
        • Cleaning Your Oral Appliance Extends its Life and Ensures Good Health
        • What Athletes Have to Tell Us About Oral Health
        • Consider a Removable Partial Denture as a Temporary Solution After Tooth Loss
      • October (4)
        • Ariana Grande Breaks Free - of Her Wisdom Teeth
        • Good Oral Hygiene Isn't Just for Teeth
        • Certain Factors May Raise Your Risk and the Intensity of Gum Disease
        • Composite Resin Could Transform Your Tooth's Appearance in Just one Visit
      • September (3)
        • Sofia Vergara: 'Obsessed' With Oral Hygiene
        • Regular Screenings Could Help With Early Oral Cancer Detection
        • The Type of Tooth Pain You Have Could be Telling You What's Wrong
      • August (3)
        • Partial Dentures: an Affordable Alternative to More Expensive Restorations
        • Baseball's Francisco Lindor Shines as "Mr. Smile"
        • 3 Reasons for Blood Pressure Checks During Dental Visits
      • July (3)
        • Managing Gum Disease Could Benefit Other Conditions You May Have
        • 4 Diet Changes You Should Make for Better Oral Health
        • How Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Gets Her Kids to Floss
      • June (3)
        • Put an End to Uncomfortable and Embarrassing Cracked Mouth Corners
        • Dental Offices Hold to the Highest Standards to Protect Patients from Infection
        • How to Clean Your Oral Appliance
      • May (3)
        • 2.6 Million Fans 'Like' Justin Bieber's Chipped Tooth
        • Local Anesthesia Provides a More Pleasant and Thorough Dental Experience
        • Implant-Supported Dentures Could Contribute to Better Bone Health
      • April (2)
        • Don't Let Sports or Energy Drinks Rob you of Your Teeth's Enamel
        • Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
      • March (2)
        • Only a Dental Exam can Identify the Root Cause of Your Tooth Pain
        • What Is A Baby Tooth Worth?
      • February (3)
        • Your teeth and jaws under pressure
        • Teens with Missing Teeth may need a Temporary Fix Until They're Older
        • How Teeth Whitening Brings Out Tara Lipinski's Winning Smile
      • January (3)
        • A Healthy Diet Could Lower Your Risk of Oral Cancer
        • Root Decay in Your Later Years Could Endanger Your Teeth
        • Dentures Still an Effective Restoration for Total Tooth Loss
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • Dr. Travis Stork: Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums
        • Give Yourself the Gift of a New Smile
      • November (3)
        • Treatment Options to Keep Stress From Causing Dental Problems
        • Be Thankful for Good Oral Health
        • Fix Your Smile Discreetly
      • October (3)
        • Why Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Couldn't Have Braces
        • Oral Health Can Prove Challenging in Your Senior Years
        • Why Dental Care is Even More Important When You're Pregnant
      • September (2)
        • Is Your Smile Too Gummy? Here's How We Might Be Able to Improve it
        • How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
      • August (3)
        • Find and Treat the Actual Source of Tooth Pain to Relieve it
        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
        • The Benefits Of Same Day Crowns
      • July (3)
        • You Don't have to Suffer from Irritating Canker Sores
        • Noah Galloway's Dentally Dangerous Dancing
        • A Mouthguard for NBA Star Isaiah Thomas
      • June (3)
        • (Don't) Break It Like Beckham
        • The Importance of Having a Family Dentist
        • Plan Ahead to Make Your Smile the Best it can be for Your Big Day!
      • May (2)
        • Vivica's Veneers: the Making of a Hollywood Smile
        • Encourage Your College-Bound Child to Practice Good Oral Health Habits
      • April (2)
        • Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
        • Word Quiz on Oral Hygiene
      • March (2)
        • Dental Crowns for the King of Magic
        • Dental Implants: a Durable, Life-Like Solution for your Tooth Loss
      • February (2)
        • Actor David Ramsey Discusses Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
        • Restore a Flawed Tooth in as Little as One Visit with Composite Resin
      • January (3)
        • Giancarlo Stanton Gets Major-League Mouth Protection
        • That Odd Looking Sore in Your Mouth is No Cause for Alarm
        • In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
  • 2016
      • December (1)
        • Non-Prescription Pain Medication can Manage Most Post-Procedure Discomfort
      • November (3)
        • Actor David Ramsey Says: Don't Forget to Floss!
        • Eat Your Greens
        • Don't Let an Eating Disorder Wreck Oral Health
      • October (2)
        • Wellness Dentistry
        • Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
      • July (18)
        • Dental Veneers and Smile Makeovers
        • The Purpose of Sports Drinks Are Being Misunderstood And Our Children Are At Risk
        • 5 symptoms that shouldn’t wait for your next scheduled check-up
        • Wednesday Morning Meal Ritual
        • Tooth Whitening with Sinsational Smile
        • It’s Not Just Dental Cleaning
        • A Healthy Recipes for Kids Dental Care
        • Chisel Your Way to Beauty
        • Needles Cure Phobia of Needles
        • Worst Food for Your Teeth
        • Healthy Recipes for Kids Dental Care
        • Cosmetic Dentistry is not just for Vanity
        • Essential Oils
        • Prenatal Dairy Consumption
        • Dental Treatment for Sleep Apnea & Snoring
        • Floss or be Flaccid
        • The Benefits of Straight Teeth
        • How You Can Benefit from New Dental Technology

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Smile Designers
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