Throbbing, tooth pain and sensitivity is discomforting and can keep you from receiving a restful night’s sleep. Cutting wisdom teeth may be to blame, a chipped tooth, crack or fracture, dental infection or in serious cases, tooth abscess. Learn how ICAT Scans help determine the cause of mouth pain and what sedation dentistry options are available to comfort patients receiving dental treatment for tooth pain and sensitivity.
Common Symptoms of Dental Pain and Sensitivity
Some types of tooth cracks are not harmful, while others require treatment. Patients who suspect a chipped tooth, crack or fracture, even with no pain or sensitivity, should schedule a dental evaluation. Medical News Today reports patients with loose or lost fillings, or those who have experienced a tooth chip, crack or fracture as a result of biting too hard on food, grinding teeth or physical injury may require immediate dental treatment, especially when experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:
- Pain when eating, particularly when chewing or biting.
- Swollen gums surrounding a cracked tooth.
- Teeth sensitivity to sweetness or the temperature of hot and cold foods.
- Hard to pinpoint pain or intermittent discomfort around the teeth and gums.
Cheek and eye swelling can commonly indicate dental infection, or in serious cases, a tooth abscess. According to the Mayo Clinic signs and symptoms of a tooth abscess often include:
- Severe, persistent, throbbing toothache radiating to the jawbone, neck or ear.
- Pressure sensitivity when chewing or biting.
- A foul-smelling and/or foul-tasting, salty fluid in the mouth.
- Pain relief, in the event an abscess ruptures before dental attention is received.
Schedule an appointment with your dentist immediately if experiencing any tooth sensitivity or dental pain to treat possible infection and prevent more serious issues from setting in. The affected tooth or teeth may be able to be saved with root canal treatment. Patients opting for sedation dentistry will be presented with a course of action to determine the appropriate procedure to administer.
ICAT Technology for Confident Smiles
Cracks, chips and fractures in teeth, or the underlying cause of tooth sensitivity and pain, is not always easy to diagnose during a visible dental examination. During the dental examination, a dental dye may be applied to sensitive teeth to make cracks more visible. The gums and gum line will also be checked for signs of inflammation since teeth chips, cracks and fractures often irritate gum tissue. The dentist will also evaluate a patient’s bite to pinpoint the area of pain. Following the visible examination, an ICAT scan may be administered in the areas cracks have formed to evaluate the pulp of the affected teeth and reveal the deeper cause of tooth pain and sensitivity.
Three Rivers Dental delivers confident smiles using technology to improve the diagnosis of oral health issues while delivering the best dental services. CAT scans in dentistry are a new standard for the 21st century, providing three-dimensional images using computer-assisted tomograph or CAT scan technology. Dental cone beam computed tomography (CT) produces three-dimensional (3-D) images of teeth, soft tissues, nerve pathways and bone in a single scan. This technology helps dentists diagnose and plan for dental services and oral health issues that require emergency care, including extractions of impacted teeth, placement of dental implants and locating the origin of toothache, sensitivity or jaw pain.
Comforting Sedation Dentistry Options for Pain-Free Dental Procedures
Once the visual examination and ICAT scan has determined the cause and location of pain and sensitivity, a recommended dental course of action will be planned. The ICAT scan can determine the development of wisdom teeth that may need pulled. In other cases, the technology can help determine if teeth with minor chips, cracks or fractures may be good candidates for a filling or dental crown. In cases of more serious dental infection or abscess, a more extensive dental treatment plan will be discussed and recommended for tooth extraction and dental implants. Three Rivers Dental offers sedation dentistry options for pleasant, comfortable and pain-free dental experiences. Different levels of sedation from mild to moderate can be used depending on the patient’s needs. Before administering any sedative, our doctors will review your medical and dental history, and select the best option for you.
At Three Rivers Dental, we care about patient comfort when it comes to delivering the best dental experience. We use ICAT imaging technology for precise imaging of existing teeth, bite and joints, particularly during implant analysis with sedation dentistry options for a comforting anxiety-free dental procedure. If dull mouth pain, tooth sensitivity or a severe toothache has you sidelined, we’re here to help. Schedule an appointment with Three Rivers Dental online or call 1 (855) 4 NO FEARS today. We are conveniently located throughout the Pittsburgh area in Cranberry, Greentree, and Greensburg.