When the toothache is from
the tooth and not its socket
then it usually indicates
that the tooth has died.
Inside
every tooth is the pulp with
nerves, blood vessels and
connective tissue. It is
from this capsule of tissue
that the tooth forms in the
beginning. It makes itself
from the outside inwards.
First the enamel is formed,
then the dentine with
the pulp inside getting
smaller throughout life.
Once the crown of the
tooth has formed then the
roots grow and take form.
The roots generally form
as the tooth erupts into
the mouth in childhood
with completion of formation
of the roots about 2yrs
after.
When the tooth has died it can be for many reasons
most commonly due to the
bacterial attack involved
with the decay the tooth
has suffered. The pulp then
abscesses and you get toothache.
The toothache is due
to pressure caused by
the production of hydrogen
gas from the pus of the
infection. This pressure
build up has nowhere
to go except downwards
in the root canals and
into the immediate bone
space around the root
apex. The pain can be
quite severe.
