Ahead of your visit
Toothache relief
One appointment, explained before it starts.
There's usually a specific reason a tooth starts hurting. Maybe a crack has developed in it. Maybe the gum tissue around it has flared up, or decay has crept close to the nerve. Sometimes the root itself is infected, or a nerve has turned sensitive after the root got exposed. Because there's a real cause behind it, the pain won't go away on its own, even if it eases for a day or two. If it's waking you at night, throbbing without warning, or getting worse when you bite down, that's worth acting on. Your dentist finds out what's going on and tells you what the tooth needs.
Why this matters
What this treatment aims to improve
Results depend on the starting condition, the treatment plan and how the mouth responds. Your dentist will explain what is realistic for your case before treatment begins.
You get a real answer
Your dentist checks the tooth and the gum around it to find out exactly what's causing the pain, so you're not left guessing what to do about it.
You learn what your pain is telling you
Waking up at night with it, a throb that comes out of nowhere, or pain on biting down are all signs worth paying attention to, and your dentist reads them as part of working out the cause.
You get a plan for the tooth itself
Once the cause is clear, your dentist tells you what the tooth needs, a filling, root canal treatment or an extraction, as its own decision once you've both got the full picture.
How it works
Step by step, from assessment to review
Tell us about the pain
When did it start? What sets it off? Does it wake you up at night? Does biting make it worse? These details point toward the cause before the exam even starts.
We look and test
Your dentist checks the tooth and gum, and might gently test how it responds to cold or pressure, sometimes with an X-ray, to pin down exactly which tooth and which cause you're dealing with.
We settle the pain, then plan the fix
Getting you comfortable comes first. Once that's done, your dentist walks you through what the tooth needs and what that treatment involves.
Is it suitable for you?
A toothache visit is for you if you're in pain right now, whether that started yesterday or has been building for a while.
It started recently
A tooth's begun hurting in the last day or two, and you'd like to know what's behind it before it gets any worse.
It's getting worse
Pain that was manageable a week ago is now waking you at night or throbbing out of nowhere, a sign the cause underneath is progressing.
It hurts to bite down
One tooth stings or aches under pressure from chewing, and that's often a sign of a crack or an infection close to the root.
Getting ready
Small things that help before you arrive.
Bring anything relevant
Old X-rays, a list of medications or notes on what you've noticed all help, though you're welcome to come without them.
Flag what makes it harder
If anxiety, a sensitive spot or a rough past experience make visits difficult, tell the team early so they can plan around it.
Give it enough time
A first look needs room for questions and a proper explanation, not just a quick glance and a nod.
Toothache relief questions
Questions patients often ask
The answers below cover what most patients experience. Your own dentist will tailor the advice to your examination, medical history and treatment plan.
It's usually one of a few things: a crack, inflamed gum tissue, decay sitting close to the nerve, an infected root, or a nerve that's turned sensitive. Your dentist examines the tooth to work out which one's behind yours.
Have a different question?
Tell the clinic what you are concerned about. The team can explain the next sensible step before you decide on a visit.
Book when you're ready
Talk it through before you book.
Tell test what you've noticed and they'll help arrange the right appointment for it.
Bring whatever you're wondering about. Your dentist explains as you go, what's happening, why it matters and what comes next, so you leave with a plan that makes sense.