The first step in the diagnosis of tooth pain is to determine whether the pain is of odontogenic origin (caused by tooth). The dentist uses clinical exam and radiography such as Cone-beam computed tomography for locating periapical lesions, fractures, missed root canal therapy.
If the pain is nonodontogenic in origin, e.g., neuropathic, sinusitis and malignancy, the dentist refers the patient to the particular specialists for additional assessment.
Tooth pain from dental decay is the most common complaint in odontogenic origin. Tooth pain can be described in different ways:
Dental cavity if left untreated, the cavity will penetrate the dentin, the second layer of tooth structure, which may cause sensitivity and pain in some cases. Once the hole penetrates a pulp chamber at the center of the tooth, the infection begins. At this stage, the only way to save the tooth is through root canal treatment. See illustrations (click to enlarge).
4. Symptom: Acute constant severe pain or dull aching pain, sensitivity to heat and cold is less striking than in acute pulpitis, and swelling of the gums is sometimes visible. Gum tissue is sensitive to touch. The response to electric pulp tester is at a higher level than normal tooth.
Possible cause: the tooth may have an abscess at the root tip(s) or around the gums.
Treatment:
5. Symptom: Pain at high altitude as in flights (symptom can be a few hours or days later). This type of pain called "Aerodontalgia." This condition occurs in the tooth with subclinical pulpitis.
Treatment: root canal therapy, extraction.
Temporary pain reliever at home
1) Clove oil
Place cotton pellet soaked in oil of clove to the exposed area and cover with temporary filling only if there are no pus forms at the root tip. If there is pus on the root tip, leave the cavity open for drainage.
Clove oil is a natural product that has been used to relieve dental pain for a long time. It is available over-the-counter. Since it can burn and has bad taste, avoid contacting the tongue, soft tissue during application.
2) Over-the-counter pain pills (work best with the first signs of pain)
at home or while traveling at all time.
Note: an effective regimen for pain is a combination of Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen by alternating every 4 hours between:
The process of gums problem can be found here
If the pain is nonodontogenic in origin, e.g., neuropathic, sinusitis and malignancy, the dentist refers the patient to the particular specialists for additional assessment.
Tooth pain from dental decay is the most common complaint in odontogenic origin. Tooth pain can be described in different ways:
- mild
- moderate
- severe
- acute
- chronic
- sharp shooting
- burning
- aching
- dull
- throbbing
Tooth pain derives from:
- An exposed nerve caused by tooth decay at the tooth crown or root surface
- Infection at the root tip due to caries at the tooth crown or root surface
- Periodontal ligament due to gum disease
- Other regions such as TMJ, muscle, referred pain
- Tooth with recent composite fillings
- Filling in deep dental decay
- Tooth extracted wound
- Cracked or broken tooth
- Recent or old root canal treatment
- Tooth eruption
- Impacted wisdom tooth
- Dry socket after tooth extraction
- Premature occlusal contact between upper and lower teeth
- High restoration such as filling, crown, bridges
Dental cavity if left untreated, the cavity will penetrate the dentin, the second layer of tooth structure, which may cause sensitivity and pain in some cases. Once the hole penetrates a pulp chamber at the center of the tooth, the infection begins. At this stage, the only way to save the tooth is through root canal treatment. See illustrations (click to enlarge).
Diagnosis of tooth pain
A simple and accurate way to find which tooth causes pain is through sequential stimulus challenge tests. The test begins by application of a stimulus that initiated the pain according to the patient's complaint to each tooth, one at a time. The most efficient stimuli are biting down pressure, heat and cold application to the suspected tooth.
Examples of the test:
Possible causes are:
In reversible pulpitis, the vital tooth cracks without penetrating the pulp chamber. The patient may experience a sharp and intense pain of short duration while chewing and biting at a particular location.
This type of pain can subside on its own, and the pulp recovers spontaneously. It is, usually, asymptomatic until provoked by some external stimuli, e.g., hot, cold, percussion, pressure or sweet. Once removes the irritant, the pulp returns to its normal, healthy state.
Treatment: If the pulp fully recovers, a dental crown is recommended to prevent further damage to the tooth.
irreversible pulpitis
In irreversible pulpitis, the vital tooth cracks and the cracked line penetrates and infects the pulp chamber. Although the pulp may be alive at a time, the nerve becomes sensitive to hot and cold but sometimes cold may provide relief. The patient may experience lingering pain even after removing the stimuli. The invaded bacteria prevent pulp tissues to heal, results in pulp necrosis. The pulp can not recover from the damage, and the tooth becomes dead.
Treatment: root canal treatment or extraction.
In non-vital cracked tooth, the pain is vague, and the location is difficult to locate until the surrounding structures (ligament, bone, and the gums) are involved. The symptom may include tooth tenderness.
When a crack increases in depth, a tooth will fracture, either at the crown or the root, and the pain becomes intensified. The key to treating cracked tooth is an early diagnosis. At an early stage, the crack is not easy to see and too small to be seen on x-ray, additional tools below seem to be helpful in identifying the problem tooth.
Tools used to detect cracked tooth are:
You can find more information about cracked tooth here.
Possible cause: the cause can be difficult to determine, it may come from tooth or sinus since they share the same nerves. Sinus congestion from flu or cold may cause pain in the upper back teeth. Clenching and grinding teeth can also have the same symptom. Oral examination and patient medical history can assist in proper diagnosis.
3. Symptom: Severe pain varies from continuous throbbing pain to less severe and intermittent attacks. The severity of pain increases while lying down or change of temperature (hot or cold foods). The response to electric pulp tester is at a lower level than normal tooth.
Possible cause if the pain originated from tooth:
A simple and accurate way to find which tooth causes pain is through sequential stimulus challenge tests. The test begins by application of a stimulus that initiated the pain according to the patient's complaint to each tooth, one at a time. The most efficient stimuli are biting down pressure, heat and cold application to the suspected tooth.
Examples of the test:
- In the patients with complaints of sensitive or pain while chewing, the dentist will tap or put pressure on each tooth in that location.
- In the patients with complaints of sensitive or pain when drinks cold beverages, the dentist will apply a cold stimulus to each tooth in that area.
Possible causes are:
- Inflammation of the ligament from supra-occlusion (a condition in which a tooth extends beyond the occlusal plane) due to a new crown, new filling, or localized periodontitis
- Cracked tooth
- Acute Pulpitis (Pulpitis is an inflammation of the dental pulp - nerves and blood vessels)
- Referred pain such as sinusitis may be mistaken for tooth pain in upper molars and pre-molars (referred pain is a feeling of pain in an area away from the actual source of the pain)
In reversible pulpitis, the vital tooth cracks without penetrating the pulp chamber. The patient may experience a sharp and intense pain of short duration while chewing and biting at a particular location.
This type of pain can subside on its own, and the pulp recovers spontaneously. It is, usually, asymptomatic until provoked by some external stimuli, e.g., hot, cold, percussion, pressure or sweet. Once removes the irritant, the pulp returns to its normal, healthy state.
Treatment: If the pulp fully recovers, a dental crown is recommended to prevent further damage to the tooth.
irreversible pulpitis
In irreversible pulpitis, the vital tooth cracks and the cracked line penetrates and infects the pulp chamber. Although the pulp may be alive at a time, the nerve becomes sensitive to hot and cold but sometimes cold may provide relief. The patient may experience lingering pain even after removing the stimuli. The invaded bacteria prevent pulp tissues to heal, results in pulp necrosis. The pulp can not recover from the damage, and the tooth becomes dead.
Treatment: root canal treatment or extraction.
In non-vital cracked tooth, the pain is vague, and the location is difficult to locate until the surrounding structures (ligament, bone, and the gums) are involved. The symptom may include tooth tenderness.
When a crack increases in depth, a tooth will fracture, either at the crown or the root, and the pain becomes intensified. The key to treating cracked tooth is an early diagnosis. At an early stage, the crack is not easy to see and too small to be seen on x-ray, additional tools below seem to be helpful in identifying the problem tooth.
Tools used to detect cracked tooth are:
- Intra-oral camera - cracked line will be magnified and easily detected on the screen
- Microscopes - high magnify glasses
- Fiber optic light
- Explorer - a sharp instrument to feel cracked line; difficult to feel a small crack.
- Bite stick - use a stick to replicate the symptom, simple procedure but may cause pain and make the symptom worse
- Stain
- Hot and cold stimulus
You can find more information about cracked tooth here.
Possible cause: the cause can be difficult to determine, it may come from tooth or sinus since they share the same nerves. Sinus congestion from flu or cold may cause pain in the upper back teeth. Clenching and grinding teeth can also have the same symptom. Oral examination and patient medical history can assist in proper diagnosis.
3. Symptom: Severe pain varies from continuous throbbing pain to less severe and intermittent attacks. The severity of pain increases while lying down or change of temperature (hot or cold foods). The response to electric pulp tester is at a lower level than normal tooth.
Possible cause if the pain originated from tooth:
- Deep decay that exposed the nerves or extensive fillings
- Injury or trauma to the tooth
- Excessive heat production and dehydration during tooth preparation.
- Chemical injury to the exposed dentin
4. Symptom: Acute constant severe pain or dull aching pain, sensitivity to heat and cold is less striking than in acute pulpitis, and swelling of the gums is sometimes visible. Gum tissue is sensitive to touch. The response to electric pulp tester is at a higher level than normal tooth.
Possible cause: the tooth may have an abscess at the root tip(s) or around the gums.
Treatment:
- If the tooth is the cause of pain: root canal therapy or extraction
- If the gum is the cause of pain: deep cleaning and other periodontal therapies.
5. Symptom: Pain at high altitude as in flights (symptom can be a few hours or days later). This type of pain called "Aerodontalgia." This condition occurs in the tooth with subclinical pulpitis.
Treatment: root canal therapy, extraction.
1) Clove oil
Place cotton pellet soaked in oil of clove to the exposed area and cover with temporary filling only if there are no pus forms at the root tip. If there is pus on the root tip, leave the cavity open for drainage.
Clove oil is a natural product that has been used to relieve dental pain for a long time. It is available over-the-counter. Since it can burn and has bad taste, avoid contacting the tongue, soft tissue during application.
2) Over-the-counter pain pills (work best with the first signs of pain)
- Moderate pain and inflammation: NSAIDs (Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and other brand names, Aspirin.
Dose: take it with food, 400 mg every 4-6 hours, not to exceed 1200 mg, unless, under the care of a physician, the maximum dose can be 3200 mg.
Side effects: gastrointestinal ulceration, bleeding, nausea, headache, dizziness, and hypertension. At the lower dose, Ibuprofen has the lowest incidence of digestive adverse drug reaction compare to other NSAID. Compare to Acetaminophen, NSAID's provide a better result in tooth pain relief at lower doses. Ibuprofen and aspirin are platelet inhibitor; high dose can cause the wound to bleed.
- Mild to moderate pain: Acetaminophen (Paracetamol), brand name-Tylenol, and Panadol, provides fast pain reliever and antipyretic effect but with little anti-inflammatory action. Acetaminophen can provide an alternative for a patient that cannot take NSAIDs or aspirin.
Dose: 325-650 mg every 4-6 hours.
Side effect: large dose can cause liver damage. Do not take this medicine more than ten days. For pregnant women, acetaminophen is the only analgesic that can be safely taken during pregnancy.
- Mild to moderate pain in U.K use Nuromol, a combination of 200mg Ibuprofen and 500mg of Paracetamol (Acetaminophen). According to the company; " Nuromol tablet was shown to offer stronger pain relief than 1000mg paracetamol and 30mg codeine combination". Nuromol should take one tablet every 6 hours (if necessary take two tablets) with food, do not exceed 6 tablets in 24 hours and do not take more than three days. Do not take Nuromol if:
- You are under 18 years
- Having stomach ulcers
- Already taking other NSAID and aspirin
- Having a history of an allergic reaction to ibuprofen, paracetamol, aspirin, and other related painkillers
at home or while traveling at all time.Note: an effective regimen for pain is a combination of Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen by alternating every 4 hours between:
- Acetaminophen (paracetamol) 1000 mg - 2 tabs of extra-strength Tylenol
- Ibuprofen 400 mg - 2 tabs of Advil.
- Do not use this regimen if you have a history of peptic ulcer, liver disease, and hypertension.
- Do not use this regimen more than few days
- Do not exceed 4000 mg of Tylenol (8 tabs of extra strength Tylenol) in one day
The process of gums problem can be found here