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Tooth Pain Can Drive a Sane Person Mad

Tooth pain is one of the most unpleasant sensations the human body can produce. But dental pain serves an important purpose: it's your body's way of telling you that there is a problem with your oral health.

Teeth pain can indicate all sorts of dental maladies. Painful teeth can be a result of tooth decay and dental cavities. Swollen and painful gums suggest gingivitis or periodontal disease. Jaw pain may come from TMJ disorder. Sensitive teeth could be a result of crooked teeth that need braces or orthodontics.

Your general or family dentist can help you discover the source of your oral pain, decide on a course of treatment, and recommend a dental specialist if you need one.

If Your Tooth Hurts, You May Need a Root Canal

A tooth abscess is a bacterial infection inside of your tooth and oral tissues, and it's a common cause of oral pain and swelling. It happens when bacteria are able to creep inside the tooth as a result of injury, decay, gum disease, or damaged dental work.

Once the inside of a tooth -- the "tooth pulp" -- gets infected, it needs to be removed so the infection does not spread further. This is the goal of root canal therapy.

During root canal treatment, a root canal dentist or endodontist opens up the infected tooth, exposing the pulp within. The infected tissue is manually removed. The inside of the tooth is then filled with endodontic material that cannot get infected.

Once a dental crown is attached to the top of the tooth, your tooth is almost as good as new! It will look and feel like the rest of your teeth, and it's still totally attached. You'll just need to practice good oral hygiene to prevent any future dental infections.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Causes And Treatment Of Root Canal Disease

Why Does My Tooth Need Root Canal Treatment?

A tooth generally needs a root canal procedure because the pulpal tissue inside the tooth has become irreversibly injured because of root canal disease. The tooth pulp is composed of elements similar to any other tissue in the body and is susceptible to injury from bacterial decay, repeated or extensive dental procedures, traumatic accidents, or advanced periodontal disease. Pulpal disease occurs in an anatomically complex space termed the root canal system. When appropriate, root canal treatment is directed towards removing inflamed or abscessed tissue, disinfecting, and preparing this space to receive a biocompatible filling material. Once the root canal system has been sealed and a protective crown placed by an endodontist, the tooth can be retained as a healthy and functional member of the dental arch.

What Are the Usual Events That Trigger Root Canal Disease?

Events that may trigger root canal disease include:

• Decay: Dental decay contains bacteria that can infect the tooth pulp. Decay can progress through the outer enamel surface of the tooth into the underlying dentin, which is a hard, yet porous, structure. Ultimately, decay can invade the dental pulp and cause pulpal injury, which leads to an inflammatory condition that can potentially become an abscess. As dental decay and its associated bacteria invade the pulpal tissue, a patient may experience no discomfort or, in other instances, the pain may be acute.
• Traumatic events: The tooth pulp is vulnerable to trauma. A blow to the mouth may lead to a variety of dental injuries. A traumatized tooth may appear whole but exhibit root canal disease at a later date. A tooth may be only slightly chipped or it may be fractured to the extent that its clinical crown is broken off and the pulpal tissue is exposed. In severe situations, the root can be fractured within the bone or the tooth completely knocked out of the mouth, which is called an "avulsion." Frequently, these traumatic events will irreversibly damage the tooth pulp by causing bacterial contamination or by interfering with the tooth's blood supply and its ability to repair. Some teeth are traumatized to the extent that they are not treatable and must be removed.
• Repetitive or extensive dental procedures: The tooth pulp is also vulnerable to injury from repetitive or extensive dental procedures. Subjecting a previously injured pulp to the additional trauma of even the best planned and performed dental surgery may be enough to cause the pulpal tissue to become irreversibly inflamed and the tooth to require root canal treatment. The dentist may or may not be able to predict this outcome in advance. At times, based on the examination and treatment plan, the dentist may recommend the removal of the dental pulp before performing other planned dental procedures. In these situations, the tooth pulp is removed so that it will not become problematic at a later date under a new, and possibly complex, restoration. At times, initiating a root canal procedure through an existing restoration may compromise its integrity.
• Periodontal disease: Infection in the gum and bone around the tooth is referred to as periodontal or gum disease. Advanced periodontal disease may compromise the blood supply to the dental pulp and ultimately, bacteria may enter and infect the pulpal tissue in the root canal space.

By Clifford J. Ruddle, DDS, in collaboration with Philip M. Smith, DDS

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.