Facial Pain Therapy in Post Office Square, Boston, MA
Facial pain can range from annoying to completely debilitating. It can originate and be felt in one specific area, or the pain can radiate to other parts of the head and neck. Your Post Office Square dentist is committed to finding the source of your pain and finding the ideal treatment options for it as soon as possible.
What Causes Facial Pain?
There are multiple causes of facial pain. Some of them require treatment from a dentist, while others may require treatment from another medical specialist. Here are just a few of the most common causes of facial pain.
Tooth Pain
Nerves are like channels – they can carry pain signals from a specific area not just to the brain but throughout the nerve's pathway. You may experience pain that is caused by a single tooth but still feel pain throughout the entire side of your face.
Tooth pain is most often caused by dental decay, but it can also result from trauma to the tooth.
Gum Pain
Periodontal disease can cause not just gum pain but also facial pain, especially if the patient has an infection.
The gums become tender and sore and can cause bite pressure sensitivity. The pain can start in one area and travel along the nerves, causing facial pain as well as gum sensitivity.
Another cause of gum pain is object impaction, such as a corn kernel getting stuck in your gum pocket.
Jaw Pain/TMJ Disorder
TMJ disorder is a condition that affects the temporomandibular jaw joints – the joints that hinge the lower jawbone to the upper jawbone.
Jaw and tooth misalignment can strain the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves of the face and neck. It can also lead to arthritis in the joint and damage to the disc within the joint.
Symptoms can include:
- Chronic headaches or migraines
- Facial pain
- Sore, tight muscles of the head and neck
- Decreased muscle flexibility
- Difficulty opening and/or closing the mouth
- Pain when chewing
- Earache
- Tooth pain
- Jaw swelling
Facial Nerve Pain
Facial nerve pain is called neuralgia and involves signals or interference of signals in the nerves of the face.
A common type of facial nerve pain is trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic condition that affects the trigeminal nerve in the face. This nerve carries facial sensations/messages to the brain. This type of nerve pain is most common in female patients over the age of 50. Symptoms are triggered by dental home care practices, speaking, and chewing.
Treatment options include medications, facial injections, and/or surgical procedures.
Vascular Pain
This type of pain occurs when there is an issue with the patient's blood vessels which inhibits proper blood flow.
Why You Need to See a Post Office Square Dentist for Facial Pain
It is vital that you see your dentist if you are experiencing facial pain.
Seeing your Post Office Square dentist for facial pain immediately is important because it gives us the opportunity to provide you with a proper diagnosis. Without a diagnosis, we will not know what is needed to get you out of pain. As this pain progresses, it is highly possible that it will start referring to other areas of the head and neck, which can also make diagnosis a bit more difficult (though not impossible).
It will also likely ensure that we catch the issue early enough so that it does not progress to something more complex. For example, if you have minor facial pain from a toothache and are diagnosed with dental decay, we can remedy the situation with a filling.
However, if you wait until the pain is debilitating, you might end up with a full-blown infection, in which case you will likely require a root canal and crown. This scenario results in more:
- Pain
- Dental appointments
- Treatment expenses
How Your Dentist Can Help Ease or Eliminate Your Pain
Your Post Office Square dentist can ease facial pain with several dental solutions, including:
- Referring you to a specialist, including a dentist who specializes in trigeminal neuralgia or a medical specialist that can treat vascular conditions
- Treating a toothache with whatever is necessary (it can range from a simple filling to a root canal to an extraction)
- Treating gum disease and infections with a deep cleaning, surgery, and/or antibiotics
- Treating TMJ disorder with a nightguard, bite adjustment, or orthodontics
You Do Not Have to Suffer in Silence
If your facial pain is not completely debilitating, you may be inclined to “grin and bear it.” We urge you not to do this. Whatever type of pain you are experiencing, whatever level you are experiencing – we want to know about it. Even occasional facial pain might be a sign of a serious issue that can cause a lot of damage and leave you with chronic pain. Contact us right away so we can help you find some relief.
If you are struggling with facial pain, contact us right away at (617) 426-6011 to schedule an evaluation.
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