Toothache treatment in Miami starts with finding out why the tooth hurts, because the right fix for a small cavity is very different from the right fix for an infected nerve. At Prana Dental in Edgewater, Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS sees toothaches the same day when he can, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm. Call or text (786) 579-0521 first so a chair is ready for you.
A tooth hurts when something irritates the nerve inside it or the tissue around it. Most of the time the cause is one of a handful of familiar problems, and many of them are easy to treat when they are caught early. Here are the ones we see most often in adults and kids:
The way a tooth hurts gives useful clues, but it is only a clue. Two people with the same kind of pain can have different problems, and some serious problems hurt very little. Use this table to understand what you are feeling and how soon to call, not to diagnose yourself.
| What you feel | What it can sometimes mean | How soon to be seen |
|---|---|---|
| A quick, sharp twinge with cold that fades within seconds | Sensitive enamel, an exposed root or an early cavity | At a regular visit in the next few weeks |
| Pain with hot or cold that lingers for a minute or more | A nerve that is irritated or inflamed | Within a few days, sooner if it is getting worse |
| Throbbing pain that starts on its own or wakes you up | An inflamed nerve that may not recover, or an infection | The same day if you can |
| Sharp pain when you bite down or let go | A cracked tooth, a filling that sits high, or inflammation at the root tip | Within a day or two; avoid chewing on that side |
| A dull ache in several upper back teeth with a stuffy nose | Sinus pressure rather than a tooth problem | Check with a dentist if it doesn't settle as the sinus clears |
| An ache behind the last molar with swollen, sore gum | A wisdom tooth that is partly in and irritated | Within a few days, the same day if the swelling grows |
| Severe pain that suddenly stops | Sometimes the nerve has died, which isn't the same as healing | Soon, even though it feels better |
| Toothache with swelling of the face, fever, or trouble swallowing or breathing | An infection that may be spreading | The ER now |
If what you feel doesn't fit neatly into a row, that is normal. Call or text and describe it in your own words. We will tell you how soon you should come in.
Home care can make the wait easier, but it doesn't treat the cause. If the pain is worst at bedtime, our post on toothache at night has a few extra tips. These steps are generally safe for most adults. If you are pregnant, take other medicines, have stomach, kidney or liver problems, or take a blood thinner, ask a pharmacist or your doctor which pain reliever is safe for you.
Most toothaches belong with a dentist. Some don't. Go to the ER now, or call 911, if a toothache comes with any of these:
The ER can treat a spreading infection and check for injuries, and you will still need a dentist afterward to fix the tooth itself. Our emergency dentist page has a fuller guide to deciding where to go first.
We keep same-day appointments for people in pain, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm. We are closed on Sunday. Please call or text (786) 579-0521 before you come, even if you are close by, so we can hold a time. If we can't fit you in the same day, we will say so plainly and give you the soonest time we have.
When you reach us, tell us which tooth or side hurts, when it started, what makes it worse, whether you have swelling or a fever, and any medicines or health conditions we should know about. A photo of a swollen area can help. You can also message us on WhatsApp at the same number, in English or Spanish.
The goal of the first visit is to find the cause, relieve the pain, and give you clear options. A typical visit goes like this:
If dental visits make you anxious, tell us when you call. Oral sedation is available for suitable patients, and local anesthetic is used to numb the area for treatment.
There is no single toothache fix. What Dr. Rana recommends depends on what the exam and X-rays show, how much healthy tooth is left, and what you prefer.
When decay hasn't reached the nerve, removing it and placing a tooth-colored filling often settles the pain. A small chip or a worn spot near the gumline can sometimes be covered with dental bonding to calm sensitivity.
If the nerve is inflamed beyond recovery or infected, a root canal removes the damaged pulp, cleans and seals the inside of the tooth, and keeps your natural tooth in place. Back teeth usually need a crown afterward to protect them, which our in-house lab makes.
Some teeth are too broken down or cracked too deeply to save. In that case a tooth extraction removes the source of pain. We then talk through whether and how to replace the tooth, for example with a bridge or a dental implant, so the teeth around the gap stay stable.
Dr. Rana is a general dentist. He treats most toothaches himself, including many root canals and routine extractions. Some cases are better handled by someone who focuses on one area, and we tell you honestly when that is the case. A root canal with unusual or blocked canals, or a tooth that has had a root canal before, may go to an endodontist. A deeply impacted tooth or a complex surgical extraction may go to an oral surgeon. Advanced gum disease may go to a periodontist. If an infection seems to be spreading, we send you to the ER or a physician the same day.
There is no single price, because a toothache can lead to anything from a simple filling to a root canal and crown. The cost depends on the cause, which tooth it is (front teeth are usually simpler than molars), whether X-rays or a 3D scan are needed, whether the tooth needs a crown afterward, and whether you choose sedation. Once Dr. Rana has examined you, the exact price is confirmed in writing before any treatment begins.
We accept most major dental insurance. Plans differ, but many cover preventive visits at a high percentage, fillings and extractions often as basic services, and crowns and root canals often as basic or major services, subject to deductibles, waiting periods and annual maximums. We check your benefits for you before treatment when we can. For what insurance doesn't cover, 0% financing is available on approved credit through CareCredit, Cherry and LendingClub.
Most people feel better soon after the cause is treated, but the area can stay tender for a few days, especially after a root canal or extraction. Wait until the numbness wears off before you eat, so you don't bite your cheek or tongue. Chew on the other side for a day or so and keep brushing and flossing gently around the tooth.
If you had a root canal, keep the temporary filling in place and come back for the crown when we recommend, because a back tooth without one is more likely to crack. If you had a tooth removed, follow the aftercare sheet we give you, which explains how to protect the healing socket and lower the risk of dry socket. Call or text us if pain is getting worse instead of better after two or three days, if swelling grows, or if you develop a fever.
Many toothaches start as small problems that didn't hurt yet. A few habits make a real difference:
We are at 3050 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 703, on Biscayne Blvd at NE 30th St in Edgewater, with building parking and street parking and rideshare drop-off at the building. Midtown and Wynwood are often about 5 to 10 minutes away, and Brickell and Miami Beach often 10 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic. If you are in a lot of pain, let someone else drive.
Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS is a general dentist trained at NYU College of Dentistry, with more than $100,000 in continuing education. He plans and treats each case at Prana Dental himself, works with our in-house lab, and refers to a specialist when a case needs one.
Pain from a minor irritation, like food stuck in the gum or brief sensitivity after a filling, can settle by itself. Pain from decay, a crack or an infection usually comes back, and it can fade only because the nerve has died. If a toothache lasts more than a day or two, or keeps returning, have it checked.
Pain on biting is often linked to a crack in the tooth, a filling or crown that sits a little high, or inflammation around the root tip. It can also come from a sore gum pocket. Chew on the other side and have it examined within a day or two, since cracks can spread with use.
Yes. The roots of the upper back teeth are close to the sinuses, so sinus pressure can make several upper teeth ache at once, often worse when you bend over. If the ache stays after the sinus clears, or it centers on one tooth, a dentist should check that tooth.
Not always. Many toothaches are fixed with a filling, a gum treatment or a bite adjustment. A root canal is usually recommended when the nerve is inflamed beyond recovery or infected, which tests and X-rays help show. Dr. Rana explains which applies to you before anything is done.
Often, yes, when an extraction is the right choice and it can be done safely in the office. Some cases need a different plan first, for example when there is a spreading infection or the tooth is deeply impacted, and complex surgical cases are referred to an oral surgeon. Call or text first so we can plan the time.
Only if the dentist decides they are appropriate, for example when an infection is spreading or you have certain health conditions. Antibiotics don't fix the cause of a toothache, so the tooth still needs treatment. Please don't take leftover antibiotics or someone else's prescription.
Many plans pay toward the exam, X-rays and treatment such as fillings, root canals or extractions, but how much depends on your plan, deductibles, waiting periods and your remaining annual maximum. Most major dental insurance is accepted here, and we check your benefits for you.
Same-day appointments, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm. Call or text (786) 579-0521.