I don't know what's wrong with my tooth — where to start

Diagnosing yourself is not your job

Deciding whether you need a filling, a root canal or a crown is not something you have to work out. That follows an examination and an X-ray. Describing what you feel, and since when, is enough.

How to describe the problem

The more specific the better — and without reaching for medical terms you are unsure of.

• Where it is — upper or lower, front or back, left or right.
• How long you have noticed it.
• When it appears — with cold, when chewing, only at night, constantly.
• Whether anything makes it better or worse.

What happens at the examination

The teeth and gums are examined, an X-ray is taken if needed, and what can be done is discussed. Only then is it clear which category the case belongs to — and whether the student you approached is looking for exactly that.

What the examination costs

The examination at the faculty is free. That is also the reason not to put it off: you come in, your teeth are looked at, and only then do you decide whether to go on. If treatment follows, it is paid at the faculty’s own rates, which are a fraction of private practice.

If you have a panoramic X-ray

Attach it to your request. It shows every tooth at once and lets the case be assessed in advance, which often saves a visit.