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 of the tooth structure.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Pulpitis: Inflammation of the dental pulp, which can be reversible or irreversible, often caused by deep decay, trauma, or infection.
- Periodontal disease: Infection of the gums and bone supporting the teeth, which can cause pain, especially when chewing or biting.
- 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.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Dental abscess: A severe infection of the tooth or surrounding tissue, which can spread to other parts of the body if left untreated.
- Trigeminal neuralgia: A rare condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, causing severe, sudden pain in the face, including the teeth and gums.
- Osteomyelitis: An infection of the bone, which can occur in the jaw and cause severe pain, swelling, and fever.
- 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 occur in the jaw, causing pain, swelling, and tooth displacement.
- Multiple myeloma: A type of blood cancer that can cause tooth pain, loosening, and fracture due to bone destruction.
- Sickle cell disease: A genetic disorder that can cause tooth pain, especially in the molars, due to vaso-occlusive crises.