If you have a sudden pain in your temple or your leg, usually you can wait a few hours and it will subside, with no reason to think about that body part after the pain stops. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about toothaches. If you have a serious toothache that stops out of nowhere, it should be examined by your dentist as soon as possible. Continue reading to learn why.
What Does It Mean When Your Toothache Stops?
The most common cause of a toothache is tooth decay, also known as cavities. When decay has worked its way to the sensitive inner layers of the tooth, it causes extreme pain. This infection can eventually reach the nerve of the tooth, causing pain signals to be sent to the brain.
However, as the infection persists over time, the nerves of your tooth will eventually die. This means they will no longer be able to send pain signals to the brain, hence why your toothache appears to suddenly “end.”
Just because the pain has stopped doesn’t mean your problem no longer exists. In fact, the infection may be stronger than ever. The pain will eventually return as the infection spreads through the jawbone. And that will hurt much more than a regular old toothache. Luckily, there is a way your dentist can help.
How Can Your Dentist Solve the Problem?
The best way to treat an infection in the tooth is through a procedure called a root canal. Although they have a reputation of being painful, most patients actually report little to no discomfort during the procedure, thanks to plenty of local anesthetic and possibly sedation as well for particularly nervous patients.
A root canal entails your dentist creating a hole in your tooth to access the infected inside portion. Then, he or she will remove the decayed or dead tissue and replace it with a synthetic material. Finally, your dentist will seal the access hole and restore the tooth with a permanent filling or life-like crown to protect it from further infection down the road.
Root canals are a great way to save an infected tooth from needing to be extracted as well as putting an end to a toothache that has suddenly “stopped.” If your tooth pain has inexplicably gone away, contact your dentist as soon as possible.
About the Author
Dr. Dennis Stansbury’s career in dentistry spans 44 years and counting. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, and he regularly pursues continuing education opportunities to hone his skills. If you find yourself with a toothache, or even worse, if it suddenly stops, contact Dr. Stansbury at (903) 561-1122.