When Should I Go To The Dentist?

Some people would have you believe that toothache is just something that you should learn to live with, or treat yourself at home, but it’s really not something you should ignore or persistently mask with painkillers. Whilst pain relief is very good for moderate toothache, if the problem keeps reoccurring, it’s a sign that you are suffering from a more serious condition, perhaps infection or tooth decay. If you are in real pain and someone tells you to just take an ibuprofen and go to bed; don’t listen to them, they don’t know what the cause of the problem is, and they are probably not qualified to say where the pain is coming from, let alone prescribe treatment for it. Listen to what your body is telling you, don’t suffer in silence because you feel silly about seeking assistance – your dentist will understand that you are better safe than sorry.

When should I go to the dentist about toothache?

That depends on your condition and how much pain you are in, if it is excruciating, you should go to the nearest emergency clinic and organise treatment, there’s no point waiting for the problem to go away on its own. In this type of scenario, you won’t be examined by your regular dentist – unless you are registered with the clinic that is providing treatment – but that doesn’t mean they will be any less qualified to diagnose your symptoms. Furthermore, it is generally preferable to accept an appointment with an unfamiliar dentist tomorrow, rather than your normal provider months down the line, when your condition is likely to have deteriorated even further.

If you know what’s causing the toothache, and you have organised some kind of treatment, then there’s no need to panic and rush to the nearest emergency clinic, but if it flares up badly and the pain lasts longer than a day or two, then you need to speak to a professional about it. Another point to consider is that referred symptoms can arise with dental problems, such as headache, neck pains, and earache, as well as a stiff jaw that hurts when you open your mouth wide, or TMJ – where the jaw bone cracks and crunches during movement. These ailments should not be ignored either, they can all contribute to an accurate diagnosis, so it’s a good idea to make a mental note of them before you arrive at the clinic; you can help the dentist prescribe adequate treatment by giving him as much information as possible.

Don’t hang around if you notice familiar symptoms that have appeared out of nowhere or seem to be in a more aggressive form, without proper attention, your health could be at risk from infection. The Pearl Dental Clinic operates a twenty-four emergency service, so keep their number handy, in case you need assistance out of office hours.

What will happen when I get to the dentists?

Using notes from your medical history and examining your teeth, the dentist will try to diagnose what is causing the toothache and then work out the best way to proceed. As well as looking at your teeth for physical signs of infection, decay, or general damage, they will ask you about the pain – when it started, how strong it is, what causes it to flare up, where it is located – which all help them get to the root of the problem. He or she will also examine all areas of your mouth; teeth, gums, cheeks, tongue, and other areas around your neck and head, such as your sinuses, ears, nose, throat, neck and jaw. If the issue is not apparent at this stage, an x-ray will be performed, as it is possible that there are problems beneath the gum line causing the pain, things like impacted wisdom teeth, or periapical abscesses (an infected swelling inside the tooth) that cannot be identified just by looking at the teeth. X-rays are not dangerous or painful, so you won’t require any anaesthetic at this point.

Looking at all the information as a whole, your dentist should be able to diagnose the affliction and work from there to treat it; in some cases, ambiguous symptoms can make this difficult, but it’s more than likely that the problem will be visible from the x-ray. There are only so many things that can cause toothache and it is really just a question of eliminating the possibilities in order to identify the culprit.

Will the dentist give me a painkiller for my toothache?

It’s possible that your surgeon will prescribe you some kind of pain relief, but if you are not in severe pain, they may just advise you to take some over-the-counter tablets, like Ibuprofen or aspirin. If you are concerned about the toothache returning after your treatment, you could discuss some stronger products, but your dentist may wish to avoid using strong painkillers that can be addictive or dangerous when taken in high doses. Your overall health should be taken into account when prescribing any kind of medication, because problems with blood pressure or heart function could be exacerbated by pain relief pills. The dentist may refer you to your GP at this stage, if they are reluctant to provide you with strong painkillers, as the doctor can give you a full health exam and see if prescription medication is suitable for you.

Don’t worry if you leave the surgery without any pain relief, you can always return if the toothache comes back or becomes unbearable, and you shouldn’t have to put up with it for longer than twenty-four hours, if you are attending a decent clinic. In the meantime, you could always try the various home remedies that have proven to be quite effective in the past, and it’s perfectly safe to combine them with over-the-counter products, as they don’t contain any chemicals. Finally, and this cannot be stressed enough; don’t rely on painkillers to get rid of the problem, they are designed to mask the symptoms and block the nerve signals that allow you to feel the toothache, this is not curing the problem itself, simply disguising it for a short while.