Toothaches are a common dental problem that can cause anything from mild inconvenience to severe pain. Don’t let a toothache ruin your day! Our trusted dentist in Walnut Creek can quickly diagnose and treat the source of your dental discomfort, whether it’s decay, gum disease, or something else. 

Our Treatments to Relieve a Toothache 

Dental Fillings 

If a cavity is causing your toothache, your dentist may recommend a dental filling. During this procedure, they remove the decayed tissue and fill the gap with a tooth-colored composite resin material. Getting a dental filling will alleviate the pain and prevent further damage to the tooth. 

Root Canal Therapy 

When your gums and teeth are severely infected, you may need to undergo root canal therapy. This treatment involves removing the infected pulp from the tooth and filling the root canal with a special material to prevent further infection. Once you recover from the procedure, you’ll no longer feel pain and your tooth won’t be exposed to bacteria and acidic substances. 

Tooth Extraction 

An extraction is a dental procedure in which a tooth is removed from its socket. Dentists usually perform this procedure when a tooth is severely damaged, decayed, or infected, and other treatments such as root canal therapy or dental fillings cannot restore the tooth. 

Before the tooth extraction, your dentist in Walnut Creek will administer a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth. If you are anxious or nervous about the procedure, your dentist may also offer sedation to help you relax. 

During the procedure, your dentist will use specialized tools to loosen the tooth and carefully remove it from its socket. Depending on the complexity of the extraction, your dentist may need to make an incision in the gums or remove some bone around the tooth. 

After the tooth is extracted, your dentist places a gauze pad over the extraction site to help control the bleeding. You will need to bite down on the gauze for several hours after the procedure to help the socket heal. 

Antibiotics 

If the toothache is caused by an infection, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics to help fight the damaging bacteria. This treatment can help alleviate the pain and prevent the infection from spreading to other areas of the body. 

Pain Medication 

Finally, taking pain medication to manage symptoms like tooth pain or discomfort is also helpful. Follow your dentist’s instructions and read the information on the label when taking pain medication. Taking too many pain relievers can cause unwanted side effects and complications, such as liver damage or stomach bleeding.  

In addition to pain medication, your dentist may also recommend other pain management techniques, such as applying a cold compress over the affected area, using numbing gels or sprays, or practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation. 

Schedule an Appointment with a Dentist in Walnut Creek 

A toothache could be a warning sign of a serious dental problem that needs prompt attention from a dentist. Depending on the underlying cause of the toothache, a dentist may recommend a range of treatments, including dental fillings, root canal therapy, tooth extraction, antibiotics, and pain medication. Book an appointment for more information!