Toothache (cont.)
Medical Author:
Donna Bautista, DDS
Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACRDr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. In this Article
 Impaction and eruptionDental pain can come from teeth that are growing out ("erupting" or "cutting") or are impacted (tooth has failed to emerge into its proper position and remains under gum and/or bone). When a molar (the largest teeth at the back of the jaw) tooth erupts, the surrounding gum can become inflamed and swollen. Impacted teeth cause pain when they put pressure onto other teeth, bone, and gum. It is further aggravated by infection. Treatment for impacted teeth includes pain medication, antibiotics (for infections), and surgical removal. This most commonly occurs with impacted third molar (wisdom) teeth. What are non-dental causes of toothaches?Sometimes, a toothache may be caused by a problem not originating from a tooth or the jaw. Pain around the teeth and the jaws can be symptoms of problems in other areas of the body including the heart, ears, and sinuses. The pain of angina (inadequate supply of oxygenated blood to the heart muscle because of narrowing of the arteries to the heart) is usually located in the chest or the arm. However, in some patients with angina, a toothache or jaw pain is the only symptom of their heart problem. Infections and diseases of the ears and sinuses can also cause pain around the teeth and jaws. Due to the proximity of the ears and sinuses to the teeth, pain related to these structures can feel as if it originates from teeth. For example, the maxillary sinuses are located just above the roots of the upper posterior teeth. A sinus infection near these upper teeth can be mistaken for a tooth problem. Because infections and diseases outside of the mouth can be the cause of such pain that is described as a "toothache," evaluations by both dentists and doctors are sometimes necessary to diagnose medical illnesses. Reviewed by William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR on 1/11/2013 Patient CommentsViewers share their comments
Toothache - Treatments
Question: What treatment did you receive for your toothache?
Toothache - Describe Your Experience
Question: How did you cope with your toothache?
Toothache - Temporalmandibular Joint (TMJ) Symptoms
Question: Discuss the symptoms you've experienced with temporalmandibular joint (TMJ) disorder?
Toothache - Home Remedies
Question: Please share home remedies for managing the symptoms of a toothache.
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