Toothache query!

eth0_

I chipped a temporary filling in the 4th tooth from the front on my lower jaw (which I had done 6 months ago and stupidly forgot to go back to my dentist to finish it off; long story short i've chipped the filling and have been having toothache. I'm going to my dentist tomorrow to have it sorted out but...


Generally it's likely you'll need a root canal if you have _constant_ toothache, right?

I don't have pain every day (and when I do it's almost always once i've gotten into bed!), and tapping the tooth with a pen doesn't hurt.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Pain from teeth is generally caused by nerve inside the tooth casues by infection of the nerve by bacteria this is called pulpitis. Pulpitis can be reversable or irreversable.

Reversable pulpitis is the most common type of toothache where decay in the tooth has not progressed all the way to the nerve and removal of the decay and filling the tooth usually allows the nerve to recover and all is well. The symotoms of pulpitis are pain which comes on when you eat or drink or bite on the tooth but lasts only a short time and goes away quickly. The tooth is generally not painful to tap. It would not wake you up at night.

Irreversable pulpitis - decay has caused the nerve to dies off. The tooth is painful to touch and nocturnal pain is common. Sometimes the infection escapes into the jaw bone and causes an abcess (true abcess formation is less connon than people make out...most tooth aches are not abcesses). Here the only treatment is to remove the dead nerve ( root canal ) or remove the tooth. This type of tooth ache is very severe and starts for no reason and last for hours.

Hot cold senstivity - not really toothache but caused by exposed root surfaces of defective or broken fillings. No decay is present but exposed dentine ( the inside of the tooth) is extreemly senstive to thermal changes. This will go away eventually. Using desenstising toothpast can work or your dentist can seal the exposed dentine.