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Find Relief from Dental Nerve Pain

Understanding the cause is the first step.

What Causes Dental Nerve Pain?

The body’s nervous system is highly complex. The largest cranial nerve, the trigeminal nerve, branches off into three parts – the ophthalmic nerve branch controls your eyes, the maxillary nerve branch controls your upper jaw (including your sinuses and nasal cavity), and the mandibular nerve branch controls the lower jaw (including the muscles involved in chewing).

 

Due to the close proximity of these nerves, occasionally you will feel referred pain in your teeth or jaw that is actually caused by something else (like a sinus infection). Similarly, when a tooth is damaged by trauma or decay, the root is exposed, or an infection is present, the pain from an irritated nerve may radiate into other parts of the jaw.

A model of the lower jaw, showing anatomy and nerves.
A model of the inside of a tooth showing the nerve going down into the root.

How is Dental Nerve Pain Treated?

If you are experiencing dental nerve pain, it is important to be seen by a dentist to determine the cause. In many cases, the nerve has been exposed by enamel wearing away or decaying, causing a small pathway to the nerve. When discovered early, a filling is a very effective means of treating nerve pain.

 

In some cases, the nerve going into the root of the tooth may be damaged to the point that it can no longer keep the tooth viable. The necessary treatment when the nerve is damaged is root canal therapy.

 

And in other situations, when the nerve is irritated because the root is exposed due to gum recession, periodontal treatment may be necessary.

 

Each case is unique and needs to be assessed to create the right treatment plan to bring you relief from pain.