Could Facial Pain Be a Sign of a Dental Problem?
By Shiraz Asif | Published on May 25, 2011 | 0 Comments
As an emergency dentist in Eden Prairie, MN, Dr. Shiraz Asif says one of the most common calls he gets from patients has to do with facial pain. Patients who feel sudden, sharp pains in their faces are smart to call a dentist for help, since facial pain could be a symptom of any number of problems.
Speaking from his office at Anderson Lake Dental in Eden Prairie, the emergency dentist says that facial pain could manifest itself in a few different ways. To one person, facial pain could have to do with temperature sensitivity in the mouth. For example, a person who drinks cold beverages regularly could suddenly feel a sharp pain when he drinks an ice cold soda one day. That would lead him to call an emergency dentist for help in many cases, explains Dr. Asif.
For some patients, the realization that something is really wrong comes when they feel a pain upon biting into something hard. Spontaneous pains tend to be the most terrible, explains Dr. Asif, because there is a real fear in feeling a pain and not knowing what is causing it.
If forced to choose between a sharp sudden pain or a dull lingering pain, most people would rather feel a sharp pain. Constant pains tend to be very difficult to manage, and they lead people in Eden Prairie to call an emergency dentist on a frequent basis.
Aside from feeling pains in their faces, Dr. Asif says that another sign that someone may need the services of an emergency dentist in Eden Prairie would be if he or she noticed any bleeding in the mouth. Bleeding gums are a definite sign that people should seek help, as are puffy, bloated, or discolored gums. Gums should be healthy and pink, says Dr. Asif, and gums that are any other color need to be looked at by a professional.
Of course, all these conditions are relative. Dr. Asif says that it’s rare that a person can actually look in the mirror and tell that his gums look puffier or redder than they did the day before. These types of changes do not happen over night. However, sudden symptoms like bleeding gums and facial pain can set in over night. That is the main reason why Dr. Asif says so many patients tend to call his practice for the treatment of these sudden symptoms rather than because of ongoing symptoms such as puffy or discolored gums.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.