Toothache? Let's find the cause.

A toothache is your tooth telling you something — and the only reliable way to know whether it's minor or urgent is to look. At KoLa Dentistry, a toothache visit starts with an exam and an X-ray of the tooth, so the treatment we recommend matches the actual cause rather than a guess.

Common causes of tooth pain

  • A deep cavity that has reached the sensitive inner layers of the tooth
  • An infected or dying nerve (abscess) — often severe, throbbing pain that can wake you up
  • A cracked or fractured tooth, especially pain when biting down that stops when you release
  • Gum disease around the tooth rather than the tooth itself
  • Grinding or clenching at night, which can make teeth ache without any decay
  • An impacted wisdom tooth pushing against its neighbor
  • Sinus pressure, which can mimic a toothache in the upper back teeth

How we fix it

The treatment follows the cause — and we never assume the biggest fix. A tooth with a cavity might need a tooth-colored filling, or an inlay/onlay or crown when decay is more extensive. A tooth with an infected nerve might need root canal therapy. A tooth too damaged to save might need a gentle extraction, with replacement options explained. Gum-related pain might call for periodontal treatment, and grinding might call for a custom night guard. Because we're an independent, doctor-owned practice, the dentist who examines you is the one accountable for the recommendation — and we always start with the most conservative option that solves the problem.

When a toothache is an emergency

Call us the same day at 512-472-5633 if you have facial or jaw swelling, fever alongside tooth pain, pain that keeps you from sleeping, or a tooth that was knocked loose. We hold room in the schedule for same-day emergencies — call as early in the day as you can.

What will it cost to find out?

New patients without insurance pay a flat $99 for the exam and all needed X-rays (regularly $430 at our office fees) — so putting a name to the pain doesn't require a leap of faith. Many of the plans we work with cover exams at or near 100%. Full offer terms are on our New Patients page. Whatever we find, you get a written price from our published fee ranges before anything is treated.

Content reviewed by Jamisen Kohlman, DMD — KoLa Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Austin, TX.

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Pain on biting that eases when you release often points to a cracked tooth or a filling that has come loose — the pressure flexes the crack. It can also be a high spot on a recent filling or an abscess at the root tip. An exam and X-ray tell us which one it is, and the fixes are very different, so it's worth finding out before it worsens.
The pain sometimes fades — the problem almost never does. When an infected nerve dies, the ache can disappear for weeks while the infection keeps spreading quietly. If a toothache lasts more than a day or two, or fades after being severe, have it looked at. Catching it early usually means a smaller, less expensive fix.
Same-day care is warranted for facial or jaw swelling, fever with tooth pain, severe pain that over-the-counter medication doesn't touch, or a tooth that's been knocked loose or out. Call 512-472-5633 as early in the day as possible — we reserve time for emergencies.
Finding the cause is the predictable part: new patients without insurance pay $99 for the exam and all needed X-rays (D0150, D0330, D0210), and many of the plans we work with cover exams at or near 100%. Treatment depends on the diagnosis — our published office fee ranges include fillings at $190–$450, root canals at $880–$1,540, and extractions at $200–$650 — and you always get an exact written price before we treat.
No — and this is exactly why we publish our prices. KoLa is an independent, doctor-owned practice with no corporate quotas. Our philosophy is conservative care first: if a filling solves it, we won't sell you a crown, and if a tooth can be saved affordably, we'll tell you before discussing anything bigger.

How We Can Help

Related services

Emergency Dental Care

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Root Canal Therapy

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Tooth-Colored Fillings

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Stop guessing about that tooth.

Independent and doctor-owned since 1945 — conservative care, honest prices, no corporate quotas.

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