Indianapolis emergency dentist explains causes of tooth pain

At Washington Street Dentistry in Indianapolis, IN, Dr. Matthew Church understands that emergency situations can happen at any time. That is why we offer convenient day, evening, and weekend office hours, as well as after-hours on-call so that we can assess and treat patients as soon as possible. In the event of any dental emergency, we encourage patients to contact us right away.

Tooth pain is a common occurrence. The factors that may indicate that a patient should call our office about a toothache include severe pain, fever, discomfort when opening the mouth, earache, or a toothache that has not subsided within a day or two. Such symptoms might indicate an infection which may spread if not addressed. It is helpful to provide us with as much information as possible, such as:

• How and when the pain began
• Severity
• Location of the pain
• Pain radiating to other areas such as the cheek, ear, or jaw
• Any actions that reduce or increase the pain (such as heat, cold, touch, pressure)

Toothaches or dental pain may be caused by any number of factors, including:

• Abscessed tooth
• Tooth nerve irritation
• Plaque build-up
• Fracture or breakage
• Infection of the gums
• Frequent motions such as grinding teeth or chewing gum
• A filling that has been damaged
• Leaking or damaged dental crowns
• Tooth decay or cavities
• Trauma to the tooth or face
• Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
• Occasionally, heart conditions may present the sensation of pain in the teeth

Pain in the teeth may be accompanied by inflammation and localized swelling, bleeding, headache, drainage, or bad taste in the mouth. Any patient who is experiencing a dental emergency should call our office at (317) 333-6788 for evaluation.

Washington Street Dentistry serves patients from Indianapolis, East Indianapolis, Cumberland, Anderson, Lawrence, New Palestine, Greenfield, and surrounding areas. Dr. Church provides a complete range of advanced dental care including emergency, cosmetic, reconstructive, family, pediatric, sedation, and surgical dentistry, as well as the Invisalign clear alignment system, root canal therapy, and treatment for sleep apnea and gum disease.

For a comprehensive consultation, contact our office today or request an appointment using our convenient online scheduling system. Washington Street Dentistry is located at 10935 East Washington Street in Indianapolis.

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