With an annual average of 1.9 million emergency department visits being attributed to tooth pain*, we can safely say toothaches are a big deal. In fact, many say dental pain is right up there with the pain of childbirth! But what if your toothache isn’t really a toothache?
When you experience dental pain, the first step is to get in to see your dentist – not an emergency department! If you go to the emergency department, they will see you and tell you it’s probably dental. You’ll still have to go to a dental office to have your pain resolved permanently. If your pain is sharp, is a result of dental trauma, or you notice swollen gums, it should be treated as an emergency. Several local dentists (me included) offer 24-hour emergency care to get your problem resolved right away.
What’s interesting about dental pain is that it is that you may feel as though you have a toothache and the source of the pain is something different. The close proximity of the nerves in your sinuses, nasal cavity, and jaws can occasionally cause referred pain from something like a sinus infection or radiated pain in which the pain from an irritated nerve may be felt in a different part of the jaw.
In most cases, oral pain is caused by tooth decay, gum disease, infections, sensitive tooth surfaces, worn enamel, grinding, muscle tension, joint issues, and/or dental trauma. By visiting a dentist for an evaluation, he or she will be able to determine the source of the pain and how best to treat it. Waiting to see if the pain resolves is usually not effective long term. Likely the situation will only get worse, making it more challenging or sometimes impossible to treat. Sometimes patients are convinced an antibiotic is a permanent cure, but an antibiotic only resolves an infection temporarily. Sometimes the pain isn’t even due to an infection
No one should have to live with dental pain. We are always here to help, offering hours that are convenient to our patients’ lifestyles. Learn more about our office and team by following us on social media (@napervilledentistry), visiting us online at napervilledentist.com, or giving us a call at 630.420.0013.
* NCHS Data Brief No. 531, June 2025
