Acute dental pain, Part 1: Diagnosis and emergency treatment.

The diagnosis and emergency treatment of acute dental pain that arises from periodontal or pulpal involvement are presented. Part I of this two-part series investigates periodontal-related emergencies that manifest as abscesses, cysts, and necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG). An attempt is made to clarify the differences among these emergencies by presenting their commonly associated symptoms and suggesting a logical approach to diagnosis and treatment.