Emergency Treatment Options For Throbbing Tooth Pain
If you have a dental abscess, impacted wisdom tooth, or cavity, you may experience throbbing dental pain. If your dentist is not available, seek treatment at a same-day dental clinic. Once there, x-rays of your mouth and jaw will be taken to determine the source of your pain. Once the dentist has diagnosed your problem, a treatment plan will be implemented. Here are some emergency treatment options for throbbing tooth pain.
Extraction
If your throbbing tooth pain is caused by a severely decayed or abscessed tooth, the dentist may determine that extraction is the best treatment option. Before the extraction begins, you will be given a local anesthetic injection that will numb your mouth so that you do not feel the extraction.
The anesthetic will wear off eventually, however, by that time, any discomfort from the extraction will have dissipated. If you experience mild discomfort after the local anesthetic wears off, take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Avoid aspirin or products containing aspirin because they can interfere with your blood platelet count, raising your risk for heavy or prolonged bleeding after your dental procedure.
Conscious Sedation
Some patients are unable to tolerate a dental examination when experiencing throbbing tooth pain. This makes it difficult for the dentist to diagnose and treat the problem, so in rare cases, the dentist may recommend conscious sedation. This type of anesthesia combines certain medications that are delivered to the patient via the intravenous route or through an intramuscular injection.
Conscious sedation causes drowsiness and relaxation, and while you may not recall what transpired during your treatment, you will be able to speak to your dentist while they are examining your mouth and treating your painful tooth. Conscious sedation medications quickly clear your system and their effects are not long-lasting.
If you prefer, you can ask your dentist for oral sedation instead of conscious sedation. Instead of intravenous or intramuscular administration of medications, oral sedation means that you will be sedated using medications that you take by mouth.
After an hour or so, you will feel relaxed so that you are better able to cope with your pain, examination, and treatment. Oral sedation is also a great option for dental patients who want to avoid sedation that is administered with a needle.
If you develop throbbing tooth pain, visit a same-day dental care clinic. The dentist can offer you a number of different treatment options to ease your pain and anxiety while undergoing your examination and treatment.
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