Differential Diagnosis for Tooth Pain
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Dental caries or tooth decay: This is the most common cause of tooth pain, resulting from bacterial infection and acid production that damages tooth enamel and dentin.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Pulpitis: Inflammation of the tooth pulp, which can be reversible or irreversible, causing pain in response to thermal or mechanical stimuli.
- Periodontal disease: Infection and inflammation of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, leading to pain, swelling, and potential tooth loss.
- Cracked tooth syndrome: A condition where a tooth is cracked, causing pain when chewing or biting, often due to trauma or grinding.
- Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gums, which can cause pain, swelling, and bleeding, often due to poor oral hygiene.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Dental abscess: A bacterial infection that can spread to other parts of the face and neck, potentially causing life-threatening complications, such as sepsis or airway obstruction.
- Trigeminal neuralgia: A chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, causing intense, shock-like pain in the face, including the teeth and gums.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder: A condition that affects the joint that connects the jawbone to the skull, causing pain, clicking, or locking of the jaw, which can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.
- Rare diagnoses
- Eruption cyst: A rare condition where a cyst forms over an erupting tooth, causing pain and swelling.
- Odontogenic keratocyst: A rare type of cyst that can cause tooth pain and swelling, often associated with an impacted tooth.
- Multiple myeloma: A type of blood cancer that can cause tooth pain, loosening, or loss, due to bone destruction and hypercalcemia.
- Sickle cell disease: A genetic disorder that can cause tooth pain, due to vaso-occlusive crises and bone infarcts.