An ache in your upper back teeth can be hard to place. It might come from the sinus above, from a tooth or from both at different times. Telling them apart starts with having the tooth looked at.
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The roots of your upper back teeth sit close to the floor of the sinus, which helps explain why congestion can feel like a toothache, and why a problem in a tooth can feel like pressure in your cheek. Several teeth aching at once can feel different from one particular tooth that won’t settle down.
If you’re in Selkirk, which is outside the City of Winnipeg, a trip in to our McPhillips Street clinic can give you some clarity on the dental side. The dentist can check whether a tooth is the likely source and whether root canal therapy is relevant. If teeth don’t seem to be the problem, you’ll know that as well.
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Note whether you can point at a single spot, or whether a whole region seems to ache together.
Hot and cold, biting, bending forward or a stuffy nose can all be useful details to mention.
Your own hunch is a good starting point, but it takes an assessment to know more about the tooth.
Should your examination link the ache to damaged tissue inside the tooth, root canal therapy may be recommended. Upper back teeth tend to have several narrow canals, so the plan is shaped to the tooth.
Each canal in the affected tooth needs attention. The dentist numbs the area, creates an opening and works along these internal passages to remove what’s unhealthy.
Molars take a lot of force during chewing, and one that’s had a root canal has often already lost structure. That’s why the final step usually gets particular attention.
A diagnosis that points elsewhere means a root canal wouldn’t be appropriate. Treatment should follow what’s found, not what was first assumed.
With this kind of pain, the assessment is largely about ruling things in or out. These stages show how you might arrive at a clearer explanation.
Request your visitExplain where it hurts, whether you’ve recently had a cold or congestion, and whether the feeling shifts when you lean over or lie down.
The dentist checks the area, examines the teeth involved and may see how they respond to pressure or temperature, alongside any appropriate X-rays.
It’s useful to learn what isn’t the cause as well as what might be. If a tooth seems healthy, that’s worthwhile information too.
If a tooth is responsible, go over the plan and the number of appointments. If not, ask what the dentist suggests you do from there.
Pain that moves around or comes and goes can be frustrating to describe from memory. Just a few days of simple notes can make things much clearer during your appointment.
Ask ahead how long the assessment should take, so your trip in from Selkirk can be planned, and whether any treatment would need a separate visit.
A pale rug below a navy bench, and a seafoam treatment chair next to a stool.
If you’re also dealing with a blocked nose, lying back with your mouth open may be uncomfortable. Mention it at the start of your appointment, so it isn’t a surprise for anyone.
Let the dentist know if a fully reclined position bothers your head or breathing, so you can talk through it.
After numbing, you might notice some vibration and force from the work. Sharpness is different, so please say so if that occurs.
Facial pressure can be unsettling when you don’t know the cause. Ask what the findings mean for that symptom in particular.
If it isn’t gone right away
Once the tooth has been treated, you might wonder if any remaining feeling is the tooth or the sinus. Knowing what to expect can help you decide whether to phone.
A short period of sensitivity to chewing is possible. You’d generally expect this to lessen as the tooth settles.
New swelling, or pain that’s severe or moving in the wrong direction, should be reported to the clinic by phone.
Ask the dentist what you should do if you get congested and the ache returns, in case it’s not the treated tooth.
Treated teeth can run into later problems from a fracture or new decay, so keep up your regular dental visits.
Talk with our team
Winnipeg North Dental
Unit-5 2358 Mcphillips Street, Winnipeg, MB R2V 4J6Get directions (opens in a new tab)From Selkirk, you’d come into Winnipeg for this appointment, which takes place at Winnipeg North Dental, Unit 5, 2358 McPhillips Street, Winnipeg, MB R2V 4J6.
After you submit the form, you’ll need to wait for the clinic to reply with a time, as a request doesn’t reserve one.
Questions about coverage?
Talk with our team before your visit or learn about CDCP.
Helpful details about root canal therapy in Selkirk.
Ask our teamCall (204) 338-3003 or send a request through this page, and describe the ache and where it is. You’d have your assessment at our clinic on McPhillips Street in Winnipeg, once staff have confirmed the time.
Yes, it can. Upper back teeth sit right beneath the sinus, so pressure from congestion may be felt as an ache in those teeth, sometimes in several of them at the same time.
A problem in an upper back tooth can sometimes produce pressure or discomfort up in the cheek. This is one reason to have the tooth checked when symptoms don’t add up.
That’s still a useful result, as it means a root canal isn’t the answer for now. Ask the dentist what would be a sensible next step for you to take.
If you aren’t sure, phone the clinic and describe what’s happening. Please don’t wait or use the form if you have severe pain or swelling.
Your assessment might point to a crown after treatment, or to a different kind of dental care altogether. These pages offer more detail on those options.
Learn how custom dental crowns in Winnipeg protect cracked, worn or root canal-treated teeth while restoring comfortable function, shape and appearance.
Explore serviceExplore general dentistry in Winnipeg for check-ups, cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, emergencies and children’s dental care.
Explore serviceContact Winnipeg North Dental for urgent help with tooth pain, swelling, broken or knocked-out teeth, lost restorations and dental injuries.
Explore serviceHave an urgent concern? Call (204) 338-3003 to discuss availability.
Still can’t place that ache?
Request an assessment at our Winnipeg clinic, and you’ll hear back from the staff. Phone instead if pain or swelling becomes severe.
Patient testimonials
Winnipeg North Dental
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