You might not think it’s a big deal if you have facial pain. After all, such aches are often minor and temporary. However, the truth is that an aching face can point to a dental emergency. Left unchecked, your discomfort could give way to something serious. Fortunately, though, your Raleigh practice is here to help. Read on to learn which dental emergencies cause face pain and why to see a dentist for help.
Dental Emergencies Known for Facial Pain
Pain in one’s face is often harmless, but it sometimes signals a dental emergency. In particular, the issue may stem from one of the following:
Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is an infection of your tooth’s soft insides (i.e., pulp). In most cases, one will occur when bacteria reach your teeth’ vulnerable nerves and blood vessels. The germs usually do so when you suffer from tooth decay, gum disease, or injury.
Symptoms of an abscessed tooth can include:
- Throbbing, persistent, or chewing pain
- Tooth or gum sensitivity
- Swollen or red gums
- Bitter taste in your mouth
- A moderate fever
Dry Socket
If the pain in your face started after tooth removal, you might have a dry socket. The latter happens when blood doesn’t clot well at an extraction site.
The symptoms of a dry socket are pretty straightforward. Namely, they’re things like persistent pain, visible loss of the blood clot, and a foul taste in your mouth.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD)
Sometimes, pain in the face is caused by your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) — a mechanism that attaches your jaw to your skull. When that body part’s structure changes, it can lead to a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Symptoms of TMD include:
- Pain or discomfort around your jaw when chewing
- Limited jaw mobility
- Swelling
- Fatigue
Why See an Emergency Dentist?
If your facial pain relates to an emergency, leaving it alone will make things worse. As such, you’ll want to see an urgent care dentist for proper relief.
You see, the above emergencies don’t fix themselves. A dental abscess, for instance, can become life-threatening if left unchecked. Similarly, a dry socket could lead to bone loss in your jaw. Even TMD can cause cracked teeth or a misaligned bite without prompt care.
Luckily, an emergency dentist could fix these issues. They’d thus relieve your pain and prevent long-term oral health problems.
About the Practice
Dr. Christine Laster is a family dentist based in Raleigh, NC, having earned her doctorate from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Dentistry. Her specialties include preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments, as well as pediatric care. She also prides herself on being a certified provider of Invisalign and SureSmile clear aligners. Dr. Laster currently practices at Rensch & Laster and can be reached at her website or by phone at (919)-787-0355.
