Emergency Dentist in San Antonio Can Find the Cause of Your Toothache

Nothing is worse than being up all night with a toothache. While many people tend to believe that it is normal from time to time, it is often an indicator of a serious underlying problem, like an infection. To give you relief and to save your tooth, it is best to see your emergency dentist in San Antonio right away. To treat it, your dentist can now better pinpoint the cause of your problem due to a new study that has helped to provide a better understanding of tooth pain.

Determining the Origins of a Toothache

In the past, the pain caused by a toothache was not well understood because a single tooth could cause your entire mouth to hurt. As a result, it was more difficult for your dentist in San Antonio to find the underlying cause of the issue. A new study has helped to shed some light on how a single tooth can lead to overall mouth pain to provide more accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Researchers at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany wanted to better understand how a toothache can lead to pain in other areas of the mouth. They delivered small electrical pulses to either the upper or lower left canine of the study’s participants. They were able to distinguish which tooth was being stimulated due to two different branches of the trigeminal nerve.

The V2 branch sent pain signals to the brain from the upper jaw while the V3 branch sent them from the lower jaw. As a result, participants were able to determine which tooth was being stimulated by the pulses.

Afterward, researchers then sent pulses to both the top and bottom canines at the same time. At this point, participants were no longer able to tell which tooth was affected. Instead, they reported having pain in their entire mouth. This provides a new understanding of why some dental pains cannot be localized to a specific tooth.

Treating Tooth Pain

When a patient is unable to determine where their pain is originating, your dentist can now better understand the pain pathways from the tooth to the brain. As a result, they can help to pinpoint an issue, such as an infection, cavity, or another problem. This will allow them to better detect a dental complication to provide the quick and effective treatment needed to restore your oral health to stop your pain.

Contact Your Dentist

If a sudden toothache is keeping you awake at night, do not wait to call your emergency dentist. Time is of the utmost importance. Your dentist will get to the root of the problem to provide you with the relief you need.

About New Image Dentistry

New Image Dentistry embraces the latest technologies and discoveries in dental care to provide our patients with superior services. We are always here for you—even during times of emergency. If you are having pain in your mouth or have a toothache, we can help. Contact our office today for a same-day appointment.