Causes of Tooth Pain From Interior Tissue Damage

A visit to an endodontist might be in order if you find yourself dealing with severe tooth pain. Minor toothaches can be caused by various things like irritated gums, loose restorations, or cavities. The most excruciating toothaches typically occur when the soft tissues inside a tooth are exposed to irritants in the mouth.

A tooth’s crown comprises a pulp chamber, dentin, and enamel. Enamel is the outermost layer, and it protects the layers beneath it. It is the strongest part of the body, and it is largely resistant to acids made by oral bacteria.

The dentin is underneath the enamel and contains tiny nerve endings. Enamel being compromised and leaving the dentin exposed often leads to minor toothaches and increased teeth sensitivity to sweet, hot, and cold foods and beverages.

The pulp chamber lies underneath the dentin, and it houses blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerves. The area can become exposed to irritants in the mouth when the rest of the tooth is suffering from decay or damage. This can lead to excruciating tooth pain.

How interior tissue damage causes tooth pain

The soft tissues in the pulp chamber, also known as the pulp, are susceptible to the many irritants in the mouth. Ways that pulp damage causes toothaches include the following.

The tooth becomes highly sensitive: Anyone who has a tooth with a compromised pulp chamber will experience sharp pain whenever irritants like bacteria, acids, or foods and beverages get to it. The pain is often at its peak right after meals.

Bite pressure causes pain: Biting down with a tooth with interior tissue damage often causes severe pain. It is often enough to force the person to stop eating on that side of the mouth to avoid the pain.

Infection: It is only a matter of time before a tooth with a damaged pulp chamber becomes infected. The tooth pain caused by the interior tissue damage is at its peak at that point. The infection leads to the tooth’s nerve and blood vessels becoming inflamed, leading to excruciating tooth pain that leaves one unable to focus on tasks or get any sleep.

How an endodontist treats interior tissue damage

The pain caused by interior tissue damage is typically enough to force even people with dental phobias to see a dentist immediately. The two primary treatment options that endodontists typically recommend for teeth with tissue damage are as follows.

1. Root canal therapy

Root canal treatments enable endodontists to save teeth with compromised pulp chambers. The treatment involves extracting the tooth’s soft tissues, inserting medication into it, and sealing it with gutta-percha. A crown is typically placed on the tooth afterward to prevent further damage.

2. Extractions

Extractions are recommended for pulp tissue damage when an infection threatens to spread to other parts of the body or the tooth is too damaged to be saved. The extracted tooth is typically replaced with a restoration, like a crown.