Listen to the tooth
Clarity begins with the right diagnosis.
Dental pain can change, travel, or appear only under certain conditions. A focused evaluation helps identify the source and whether the tooth may be preserved.
When a tooth needs treatment
Inflammation or infection may develop after deep decay, a crack, trauma, repeated dental procedures, or a restoration that no longer seals the tooth. Symptoms provide clues, but imaging and clinical testing are needed to understand what is happening.
Seek urgent care for rapidly increasing swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or swelling that approaches the eye or neck.
What you may notice
- Temperature sensitivityLingering discomfort after hot or cold.
- Pressure or biting painDiscomfort when chewing or releasing a bite.
- Spontaneous painThrobbing or pain that interrupts sleep.
- Swelling or drainageA tender area, pimple on the gum, or unpleasant taste.
- Color changeA tooth that becomes darker following trauma.
- Few or no symptomsSome findings are first identified on an examination or image.
Treatment sequence
01Diagnose
02Access
03Clean
04Disinfect
05Seal
06Preserve