Gums, surgery and urgent care
Toothache has many causes: decay, a cracked tooth, an infected nerve, gum disease, sensitivity or a wisdom tooth. Painkillers only hide it. An examination and X-ray find the cause so it can be fixed, whether that is a filling, a root canal, gum treatment or an extraction.
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How it works
We ask about the pain, such as when it starts, what triggers it and how long it lasts, then examine the tooth, test its response and take an X-ray. This tells us whether the cause is the nerve, the gum, the bite or somewhere else, so we can treat the actual problem.
Your options
Step by step
Before anything starts
After the examination you get a written plan: your options, what each step involves and how many visits it takes — itemised part by part. You decide before anything begins, and there's no pressure to start that day.
Aftercare
After treatment, follow our advice, take medicines as prescribed and avoid chewing on the tooth until it's repaired. Brush and floss normally and come back if the pain returns.
We treat the cause, not just the pain. You get a clear explanation of what's wrong and your options, in writing, before treatment begins.
FAQs
The most common causes are decay, a cracked or worn tooth, an infected nerve, gum disease and a wisdom tooth. An examination and X-ray tell us which.
Lying down increases blood flow to your head, which raises pressure in an inflamed tooth. It's a sign of nerve inflammation, so see a dentist soon.
Rinse with warm salt water, use a cold compress and take a painkiller as directed. Avoid very hot, cold or sweet foods, and don't place aspirin on the gum. Home measures only help temporarily.
If you have swelling in your face or jaw, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or severe pain that doesn't settle, get care straight away.
Pain may fade when a nerve dies, but the infection is still there and can spread. If a toothache goes quiet, you still need to be checked.
No. Many toothaches are fixed with a filling or gum treatment. A root canal is needed only when the nerve is infected or irreversibly inflamed.
In pain right now?
During working hours we try to see urgent cases the same day.
Questions about toothache treatment?
