Are Antibiotics My Only Option for a Toothache?

Posted by AllSmiles

Are antibiotics my only option for a toothache? I’ve had an intense toothache since last week. I had an appointment with my dentist yesterday, so she checked the X-rays that I had from my exam last month. She said, the took looks okay, but it may be infected. She prescribed antibiotics, told me to be sure to finish them, and to schedule another appointment if the pain persists. I’m hesitant to take antibiotics if they aren’t necessary. Is there a way to be sure of what’s causing my toothache? Thanks. Garron from IL

Garron,

You had X-rays taken two months ago, but since you’re now experiencing pain, a new X-ray is essential. It’s probable your previous images were bitewings, which only capture the top portion of your teeth. To accurately diagnose your current issue, we need a full X-ray that shows the entire tooth, down to the root tip, to check for any pulp infection.

How to Identify the Cause of a Toothache

It’s important to consider that a cracked filling isn’t the only potential cause of your discomfort. A thorough dental evaluation should involve a range of diagnostic tests to precisely identify the problem. These tests help us understand the nature of your pain and the health of the tooth’s pulp:

• Percussion test: Does tapping on the tooth increase your pain?
• Thermal tests: How does the tooth react to hot and cold stimuli? Does cold worsen or alleviate the pain?
• Electric pulp testing: This can help determine if the nerve inside the tooth is still alive.

Why Is Antibiotic-Only Treatment Ineffective for a Toothache?

Receiving a prescription for antibiotics with the advice to avoid follow-up care if the pain improves is not the correct approach. If antibiotics relieve your pain, it signifies the presence of an infection that requires proper dental intervention, not just medication.

Antibiotics alone are insufficient to resolve a tooth infection because they do not penetrate the inside of the tooth. They only address the infection that has spread into the surrounding bone. After you’ve taken all the antibiotics, the infection will likely return, often in a more severe form and with a higher chance of the bacteria becoming resistant to the antibiotic used. This can lead to very serious, even fatal, outcomes,  if the infection becomes untreatable. An infected tooth requires root canal treatment.

tists Dr. William Walden and Dr. Tyrel Beavers sponsor this post. They cater to patients with dental anxiety.