Urgent Care
Severe or Persistent Tooth Pain
A toothache that will not settle is a symptom, not a condition.
Pain that keeps coming back, or will not go at all, usually means infection or decay that has reached somewhere it should not be. It needs seeing rather than medicating.
Dentistry for the whole household.
About Tooth Pain
Why persistent pain needs an appointment
A chronic toothache can indicate infection or decay requiring urgent care. Over-the-counter pain medication manages the symptom for a while, but it does nothing about the cause – and the cause tends to progress. This is one of the situations we keep same-day appointments for.
Related Symptoms
What often comes with it
Pain rarely arrives on its own, and what accompanies it helps establish the cause.
- Lost or broken restorations A damaged filling or crown exposes sensitive areas and invites further complications.
- Soft tissue injuries Cuts or trauma to the lips, tongue, cheeks or gums may need treatment to prevent infection.
- Swelling Facial or jaw swelling alongside pain suggests infection and should be treated as urgent.
The Causes
What is usually behind it
Persistent pain in a tooth generally means bacteria have reached the pulp, the soft tissue inside it. Several things let that happen, and which one it is determines the treatment.
- Deep decay Decay that has worked its way through the enamel and dentine to the nerve.
- A cracked tooth A crack gives bacteria a route into the inside of the tooth.
- Trauma A knock or injury can damage the pulp even where the tooth looks intact.
- A failing restoration A filling or crown that has broken or come away leaves the tooth exposed.
What We Do
How the cause is found and treated
The assessment establishes what is causing the pain – decay, an infected nerve, a crack, or a failing restoration. From there the priority is to relieve the pain and stop further damage. Depending on the cause that may mean root canal treatment, a crown, or in some cases an extraction.
Getting Seen
If you are in pain today
Call the office and describe what you are feeling, how long it has gone on and whether anything makes it worse. Talega Dental Group holds same-day appointments for urgent cases and takes walk-ins. See emergency dental care for what else counts as urgent.
The short answer
Severe or persistent tooth pain is a toothache that will not settle or keeps coming back, and it is a symptom rather than a condition in itself. It usually means infection or decay has reached the pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth, through deep decay, a crack, trauma or a failing filling or crown. Treatment starts with an assessment to find the cause, then relieves the pain and stops further damage, which may mean root canal treatment, a crown or in some cases an extraction.
Common Questions
Tooth Pain FAQ
- Can I just take painkillers until it passes?
Painkillers are not a substitute for being seen, and relying on them alone is not advisable. Over-the-counter pain medication manages the symptom for a while, but it does nothing about the cause. The underlying infection or decay continues in the meantime, and it tends to progress. An assessment is what finds the cause so it can be treated.
- How quickly should I be seen?
Persistent or severe tooth pain is treated as urgent, so it should be seen the same day where possible. Same-day appointments are kept for exactly this situation. When you call, describe what you are feeling, how long it has gone on and whether anything makes it worse. That helps us judge how quickly you need to come in.
- What usually causes it?
Persistent tooth pain is most often caused by infection or decay. It generally means bacteria have reached the pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth, through deep decay, a crack, a knock or injury, or a filling or crown that has broken or come away. A lost or broken restoration can also expose sensitive areas on its own. Which of these it is determines the treatment.
- Will the tooth have to come out?
Not necessarily. Where the tooth can be saved, root canal treatment or a crown is preferred, and extraction is the last option. The decision depends on what the assessment finds is causing the pain. Relieving the pain and stopping further damage come first.
- What if my face is swollen too?
Swelling in the face or jaw alongside tooth pain should be treated as urgent, so call straight away. It suggests an infection that is spreading rather than one that is staying put. Describe the swelling when you call so we can see you as quickly as the situation needs.
- Do I need to be an existing patient?
No, you do not need to be an existing patient. We accept new patients and offer walk-in emergency care. Same-day appointments are held for urgent cases, so call and describe what is happening, or come in.
- Why does it hurt more at night?
Tooth pain often feels worse at night because you are still and nothing else is competing for your attention. Noticing it more at night does not mean the problem is different. It is, however, a common reason people call first thing in the morning.
- It stopped hurting – do I still need to come in?
Yes, you should still be seen. Pain stopping can mean the nerve inside the tooth has died, and that does not resolve the infection. The cause is still there even though the symptom has gone, so it is worth having the tooth assessed either way.
Book a visit
Plan your visit
We accept new patients and offer walk-in emergency care.
Address
Phone
Office hours
Your dentist
Dr. Ben Meshkinfam, D.D.S.
University of the Pacific, D.D.S. · Post-doctorate at LAC+USC Medical Center
Insurance & financing
30 HMO and PPO plans accepted
Including Delta Dental, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Guardian, MetLife and Humana. Estimates in writing before treatment.
