Why is the second premolar paining?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have pain in my left second premolar. The X-rays do not show anything, and it does not hurt if I tap on it or drink cold water. It seems to hurt near the root of the tooth, but only on one side, that is, the side facing the first molar. When I touch this side, I feel a short, sharp pain. If I do not touch it, it feels more like a dull ache. I have been using sensitive toothpaste and mouthwash to make my enamel stronger, but nothing seems to work. I have been cleaning my gums as well, and they are not bleeding.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

From your description, it seems maybe your premolar might have a vertical fracture involving the nerves inside. This might be either due to a large filling, which may have caused more pressure on the remaining tooth structure or even biting on a very hard object or food. You need to get it checked by a dentist. The dentist would use direct illumination to check for a fracture. Vertical fracture cases usually require tooth extraction, and in some rare cases, root canal treatment can be done to save them. But, it can also be something, like an infection, which may not have come up on an X-ray till now. A detailed examination is required.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.