Toothache pain is brutal. It can be a major distraction during the day, and keep you up at night. A toothache is telling you that something is wrong. If you get one, call us right away at Staten Island Dental Care.
Anyone who has had a really bad toothache knows that it’s right up there with some of the worst pain that we humans can have. Toothaches don’t discriminate: they affect children and grownups in equal numbers, and have sent more than one person to the emergency room.
Pulpitis
The most common cause of a toothache is a condition called pulpitis. A tooth consists of three layers: the outer hard part called enamel, a slightly softer layer beneath it called dentine, and the pulp, the center part where the nerves and blood vessels are. When enamel is eroded by decay, then germs, and stimuli like hot and cold temperatures go through the dentine to the pulp.
When that happens, the result is a toothache. The pulp becomes inflamed, which is called pulpitis. There are two basic types:
- Reversible. The pulp is not badly damaged, and can heal with treatment. That usually means drill and fill: removing any decay, and a filling.
- Irreversible. Damage is too extensive. A root canal can save the tooth, although technically it will be dead. The only other option is extraction.
The best way to avoid pulpitis and maintain good dental health involves two things: daily brushing and flossing, and seeing us at Staten Island Dental Care for regular cleanings and checkups. Patients from Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Bayonne also come to our office for general and restorative dentistry. Call us to schedule your next checkup today!
Contact Staten Island Dental Care – Dr. Frederick Hecht:
347-695-4380
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1520 Richmond Ave
Staten Island, New York
10314
