Managing Pain
More than 15 percent of American adults suffer from chronic facial pain, typically in or around the ear and the jaw. The pain is often accompanied by clicking or popping noises when opening the mouth, or even headaches and neck aches.
There are many methods for relieving oral pain. They include:
- Ice packs on the affected area.
- Avoiding hard candy or ice.
- Avoiding sleeping on your stomach.
Dentists use a wide array of pain management tools, including:
- Anesthetics such as Novocaine.
- Analgesics such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
- Sedatives, including a procedure known as “conscious sedation” or general sedation (also known as “deep sedation”).