Acute tooth pain is one of the most intense types of pain, second only to renal colic and heart attacks, but calling an ambulance is useless. Dentist-therapist Aralbek Tasbulatov explains how to handle such a situation and why you should not take painkillers before seeing a doctor, reports infohub.kz.
According to the doctor, tooth pain is a sign of an inflammatory process. It usually occurs when the nerve (pulp) or the tissues holding the tooth in its socket (periodontium) become inflamed. The most common cause is untreated caries. With pulpitis, symptoms include spontaneous pain, sensitivity to hot and cold, shooting pain, and night pain. With periodontitis, the main symptom is pain when biting down.
To avoid complications, patients should visit the dentist regularly and treat caries early. Many people delay treatment due to fear or high costs, but modern dentistry allows for nearly painless procedures. Anesthetics completely block tooth sensitivity, and with properly administered anesthesia, treatments such as caries fillings, extractions, implants, and prosthetics can be performed without pain. However, in about 5% of patients, anesthesia may be less effective due to individual factors, heightened sensitivity, or tissue inflammation. Sometimes the psychological factor—a strong expectation of pain—also plays a role.
Many people notice their tooth hurts more at night. This is due to the increased influence of the vagus nerve during nighttime hours. If sudden pain occurs in the evening or at night, the doctor recommends taking a painkiller strictly according to the instructions, without exceeding the dose, and scheduling an appointment with the dentist as soon as possible. Modern painkillers effectively relieve pain from pulpitis and flare-ups of chronic inflammation, but their effect is temporary. Do not relax once the pain subsides—see a dentist immediately. Taking painkillers before an appointment is not recommended because it can mask symptoms and make it difficult for the doctor to identify the problematic tooth.
Tooth pain is not considered a condition requiring emergency medical assistance. If you call an ambulance, the patient will likely be advised to go to a dental clinic or the maxillofacial department of a hospital, but unless there are life-threatening complications, even there they will recommend taking a painkiller and scheduling an outpatient appointment.
The main prevention of tooth pain is to avoid complications from caries. The doctor recommends brushing your teeth twice a day, maintaining good oral hygiene, having a checkup every six months, and treating caries promptly, without waiting for pain. Earlier, Kursiv reported that sugary foods are not the only cause of tooth decay; caries has an infectious nature and can be transmitted through saliva.