{"id":363,"date":"2024-05-28T18:36:24","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T18:36:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crsmile.com\/blog\/?p=363"},"modified":"2025-10-20T20:43:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T20:43:58","slug":"dental-distension-what-caused-my-aching-face","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crsmile.com\/blog\/2024\/05\/dental-distension-what-caused-my-aching-face\/","title":{"rendered":"Dental Distension: What Caused My Aching Face?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crsmile.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/AdobeStock_323359837-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Woman with dark hair holding her jaw in pain in front of a grey background\" class=\"wp-image-364\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crsmile.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/AdobeStock_323359837-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crsmile.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/AdobeStock_323359837-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.crsmile.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/AdobeStock_323359837-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.crsmile.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/AdobeStock_323359837-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.crsmile.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/AdobeStock_323359837-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve suddenly developed an ache or puffiness in your face, it\u2019s natural to wonder where to go for help. Is it a dental issue requiring a same-day <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crsmile.com\/emergency-dentistry.html\">emergency appointment<\/a>, or is it a medical issue that necessitates a visit to the nearest ER?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many potential causes for the throbbing you\u2019ve noticed. Because it could be an oral issue, it\u2019s probably best to contact your dentist first. They have the special training and instruments necessary to quickly identify the root cause and make an appropriate treatment plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Continue reading to learn about 3 reasons that your face has swollen up and how your dentist might help!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cause #1: Dental Abscess<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have an overly decayed or damaged tooth or progressing gum disease, then harmful bacteria can penetrate the tender roots of your teeth. This can cause an infection in the soft pulp inside. A pocket of fluid can form in your jawbone, which causes persistent throbbing, inflamed gums, a foul taste in your mouth, and fever. You\u2019ll likely notice puffy cheeks around the affected area until the issue is resolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oral problems don\u2019t take care of themselves, so it\u2019s important to see your dentist as soon as you notice any symptoms. That way, they can perform a root canal or other repair as needed to protect your pearly whites and restore their functionality before they require extraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cause #2: Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the sockets that connect your jawbone to your skull just below your ears. If you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding) or have a bite misalignment, you could end up putting added pressure on these discs that can irritate and inflate them. Your jaw could become stiff or locked in addition to having a sore face, neck, and head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, your dentist can help in several ways. Sometimes, an oral appliance like an occlusal splint allows your jaw to relax enough to mend itself. Other instances require an occlusal adjustment that involves reshaping your teeth so they come together correctly. Whatever the reason for your TMD, your dentist can identify it and help assuage your inflated visage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cause #3: Dry Socket<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s normal to experience some discomfort after having a tooth extracted. You\u2019ll likely experience some swelling and aches for a few days, but this typically starts to fade until it dissipates entirely. A blood clot will form over the extraction site that shields the tender nerves underneath from bacteria in your mouth. Sometimes, however, this clot is dislodged, and you can develop a painful complication known as a dry socket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your dentist can examine your mouth to ensure that you\u2019re healing properly and might recommend a numbing gel to alleviate the symptoms until the blood clot can reform. Once you\u2019ve recovered fully, any remaining tenderness should abate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you go to the dentist for facial aches and they determine that they aren\u2019t the best person for the job, they\u2019ll be sure to refer you to an appropriate doctor to assist you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Patients at Ross &amp; Sourlis Family Dentistry of Rock Hill benefit from multiple dentists who work together to create fully individualized treatment plans to meet your unique needs. They have years of experience handling everything from preventative care to more complex procedures like extractions and TMJ therapies under one roof. If you\u2019re suffering from facial pain, they offer same-day emergency appointments, so you don\u2019t have to wait for relief. You can request one on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crsmile.com\/contact.html\">website<\/a> or by calling (803) 592-6201.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve suddenly developed an ache or puffiness in your face, it\u2019s natural to wonder where to go for help. Is it a dental issue requiring a same-day emergency appointment, or is it a medical issue that necessitates a visit to the nearest ER? There are many potential causes for the throbbing you\u2019ve noticed. Because [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Dental Distension: What Caused My Aching Face? | Coombs, Ross &amp; Sourlis Family Dentistry of Rock Hill<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019re unsure what caused your facial aches, continue reading to learn why you should contact your dentist before your doctor!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crsmile.com\/blog\/2024\/05\/dental-distension-what-caused-my-aching-face\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dental Distension: What Caused My Aching Face? 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