We find the true source of the ache with in-office 3D CT imaging, numb gently with The Wand, and bring craniofacial pain training to the cases where the problem is your jaw rather than a tooth.
The kind of pain points toward its cause. Treat this as a guide rather than a diagnosis, because two problems can feel the same and only an exam settles it.
| What you feel | Common causes | How soon to be seen |
|---|---|---|
| A quick zing with cold or sweets that fades in seconds | Worn enamel, exposed root surfaces or an early cavity | Routine visit |
| Sharp pain when you bite down or release | A cracked tooth, a loose filling or decay under an old restoration | Within a few days |
| Hot or cold pain that lingers after the drink is gone | An inflamed nerve inside the tooth | This week |
| Constant throbbing that keeps you awake | Infection or an abscess at the root | As soon as possible |
| Tender, swollen or bleeding gum around one tooth | Trapped food, a gum infection or gum disease | Within a few days |
| Pressure behind the last molars | An erupting or impacted wisdom tooth | Within a few days |
| A dull ache in several upper back teeth, worse when you bend over | Sinus pressure on the upper tooth roots | Exam to rule out a tooth |
| An ache across the jaw, temples or many teeth, worst in the morning | Clenching, grinding or a TMJ disorder | TMJ evaluation |
Most toothaches need a dentist rather than a hospital. These signs sort out which one you need, and what to do in the meantime.
The ER can control the infection and the pain. The tooth itself still needs a dentist afterward.
"So grateful I was able to be seen same day when I called today with a broken tooth. Dr. Nelly was so kind, professional, explained everything and put in process a plan for my teeth."
Kristen K., Google Review
Treating the wrong tooth leaves you in pain. Every tooth pain visit starts with a diagnosis you can see for yourself.
We ask when the pain started, what sets it off and what eases it. Those answers often narrow the cause before we look.
Digital x-rays show decay and infection. When a crack, a hidden canal or the jaw joint is in question, our Vatech CT scanner takes a 3D view in the office.
You see the images with us, hear what is causing the pain and get your options, from the simplest fix to the long-term repair.
The Wand delivers numbing slowly and steadily. Conscious sedation is available for patients with dental anxiety.
The fix matches the cause. These are the treatments we use most for tooth pain, all under one roof.
Remove decay and seal the tooth before a cavity reaches the nerve.
Clears infection from inside the tooth and saves it. A crown usually follows to protect it.
Chipped and cracked teeth are rebuilt so biting and cold stop setting off pain.
When a tooth cannot be saved, or a wisdom tooth is impacted, removal ends the pain. Implants and dentures can replace it.
Deep cleaning, laser periodontal treatment and pocket reduction calm infected, painful gums.
Treats jaw joint and muscle pain that spreads into healthy teeth.
"The x-ray showed an abscess tooth which needed a root canal. I was treated with compassion and empathy."
Denice H., Google Review
Some toothaches start in the jaw joint or the chewing muscles. Clenching and grinding at night can make healthy teeth ache, often several at once and worst in the morning.
When the teeth check out healthy, we look at the jaw. TENS and K7 technology relax the chewing muscles and record how your jaw moves, so treatment targets the joint rather than a healthy tooth.
"Dr. Silva listened to all my concerns and provided several options for getting to the root cause of my jaw pain."
Becca W., Google ReviewMost toothaches are diagnosed and treated by the same dentist, and gum pain is handled by a dentist focused on periodontics.
DMD, Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry . Fellow, International College of Dentists . Clinical Associate Professor, Temple Kornberg
Dr. Silva performs root canals, extractions and implant reconstruction herself, and she adds craniofacial pain training for the aches that turn out to be the jaw. She invites patients to call her Nelly.
Periodontics
Dr. Strassberg is skilled in all aspects of periodontics. He treats the gum infections and gum disease behind many aching teeth.
Cost depends on the cause, since a filling and a root canal are very different visits. Once we know what is wrong, we go over the cost of each option with you. We do not accept Medicaid.
Go to the ER if swelling spreads toward your eye, jaw line or neck, if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, or if you have a fever with facial swelling. An emergency room can treat the infection and the pain, but it cannot repair the tooth. For a toothache without those signs, a dentist is the faster route to a real fix.
Over-the-counter pain relievers, taken exactly as the label directs, ease most toothaches until your visit. If you take other medications or have a health condition, ask your pharmacist or physician which one is safe for you. Never hold an aspirin against the gum, because it can burn the tissue. Tablets dull the pain but do not treat what is causing it.
It is a phrase shared online for taking an over-the-counter pain reliever on a fixed schedule for a few days while you wait to see a dentist. It is not a treatment, and the dose on the label or from your physician always comes first. If you need pain relievers for more than a day or two, the tooth needs an exam.
The usual causes are decay, a crack, a worn or leaking filling, gum recession or grinding. Adult teeth cannot repair a cavity or a crack on their own, so the pain tends to return and grow. An exam and an x-ray find the cause while the fix is still small.
Mild sensitivity sometimes settles with a sensitivity toothpaste. Pain that stops after days of throbbing can mean the nerve inside the tooth has died, while the infection keeps spreading. Pain that fades is worth an exam, not a sigh of relief.
Lying down increases blood flow to the head, which adds pressure to an inflamed nerve. There are also fewer distractions, and many people clench or grind in their sleep. Pain that wakes you up is a sign to be seen soon.
One visit tells you what is wrong and how to fix it. Our office is at 399 Arcola Road, Collegeville, PA 19426.
