Patient Education / Dental Education Library
Pain can occur in any number of places in your mouth: teeth, gums, roots, the palate, tongue and jaw. Cavities, impacted and abscessed teeth, sore jaws from teeth grinding, improper bite relationships, and jaw disorders are all common causes of oral pain.
Some dental procedures, such as tooth extractions and oral surgery, may require medications before or after the procedure to prevent or fight infection, or to relieve post-operative discomfort. It is extremely important to share your entire medical history and current medications with our office.
There are many methods for relieving oral pain, including ice packs on the affected area, avoiding hard candy or ice, and avoiding sleeping on your stomach. Dentists also use a wide array of pain management tools including anesthetics, analgesics, and sedatives.
Dentistry has advanced to the point where pain is almost a thing of the past. Powerful pain-killing medications known as anesthetics help patients avoid discomfort during and after procedures. Types include analgesics, topical and injectable anesthetics, and sedatives such as nitrous oxide.
Air abrasion is a relatively new technique that uses powerful particles of aluminum oxide to remove debris and decay. The most exciting thing for patients is that air abrasion is painless and, in some cases, does not require an anesthetic at all.
