A toothache is a common problem that affects nearly all people at some point. What causes tooth pain? How do I avoid an aching tooth? By understanding the potential causes of discomfort you can take steps to ensure comfortable and healthy teeth. We will also look at the importance of addressing an aching tooth before the problem can progress to a more serious issue.
Astoria, NY Toothache Quiz
- True or False: A toothache is often no big deal.
- True or False: Without treatment an infection can develop.
- True or False: Treating an aching tooth takes multiple visits and procedures.
- True or False: We can offer treatment for bruxism.
Answer Key
- False. While an aching tooth can be caused by a variety of factors, including sinus infection or bruxism (teeth grinding), the most common cause is tooth decay. As a result, you should not ignore an aching tooth that persists for more than 48 hours.
- True. The bacteria that cause decay can continue to spread, eventually reaching the inner pulp. When this occurs an infection can develop. An untreated infection can lead to serious consequences, including the extraction of the tooth to avoid the spread of infection to adjacent teeth or the jawbone.
- False. In many cases we can place a dental filling to address an ache caused by a cavity. The filling material is metal-free and natural looking. The entire process takes only a single visit, so you can enjoy a whole and functional tooth again without committing to multiple visits or procedures.
- True. As we mentioned above, bruxism can often cause toothaches as the grinding action wears down tooth enamel or chips/cracks the tooth. We can provide an oral appliance that the patient wears at night. The device places a barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent further damage from bruxism.
ABOUT YOUR ASTORIA DENTIST
Our Astoria, NY dentist office accepts most major insurance plans. To find out if we accept yours, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, contact us at (718) 728-8320. We welcome patients living in and around Queens, Astoria, NYC, upstate New York, and New Jersey.
