What do I do if my dentist can’t find the source of tooth pain?
Tooth pain is usually assumed to come from an oral related issue such as cavities, gum infections, or fractured/broken teeth. Despite the majority of the time these problems are a result of one of the above or a related issue, sometimes a “toothache” can actually be pain stemming from a location other than your mouth.
If It Isn’t Tooth Pain, Then What Is It?
It is possible for you to feel pain in your teeth although no issue exists in that location. If your dentist checks out your oral health and doesn’t find anything, there could be a variety of possibilities to the true source of pain. This type of pain is known as referred pain. The types of referred pain patients can experience are related, but not limited, to:
- Facial Nerve Inflammation/Pain
- Earache or Ear Infection
- Joint Pain/Trauma
- Severe Headaches & Migraines
If The Dentist Can’t Find The Source Of Pain, What’s Next?
Any of the problems above listed could possibly be the actual reasoning for tooth pain. Most dentists are trained to be able to spot when problems reside outside of oral health complications. If for some reason your dentist is unable to identify a solution related to your oral health, they will be able to identify that you are experiencing referred pain, and refer you to see a medical practitioner.
The source of your pain is the first step to solving it, even if that means we cannot help you, we want to help you find someone in your healthcare network that can. There are multiple experts in fields involving orofacial, atypical, and/or neurological-related pain. It is important not to ignore lingering tooth pain, as it could end up being more of a problem than you bargained for if not looked into quickly!
