If you’ve ever experienced a toothache, you know how bad it can get. Often, it starts small and goes away in a day or two, but a bad toothache? Those can linger for weeks, sending radiating pain into your jaw, head, and neck.
While some dental discomfort can wait, other situations require immediate dental attention. Knowing when to call an emergency dentist can help save your tooth, prevent infections from spreading, and help alleviate your pain.
Here's how to recognize the signs of a true dental emergency and what an emergency dentist can do to help.
If your toothache is intense, keeps you awake at night, or doesn't improve with over-the-counter pain relievers, it's time to seek emergency dental care. Severe pain often signals an infection, exposed nerve, or deep cavity that can't heal on its own.
Swelling around your tooth, jaw, or face can indicate a serious infection. If the swelling is spreading, accompanied by fever, or making it difficult to swallow or breathe, you should seek immediate dental care.
(If breathing becomes difficult, go to the nearest emergency room.)
A knocked-out permanent tooth is one of the most time-sensitive dental emergencies. If you receive treatment within 30 to 60 minutes, there's a better chance the tooth can be saved.
Until you reach the dentist:
Not every chipped tooth is an emergency, but a large crack, severe break, or broken tooth causing significant pain should be evaluated immediately. Delaying treatment can allow bacteria to enter the tooth and lead to infection.
An abscess is a pocket of infection that often appears as a swollen bump on the gums. The symptoms can include:
Bleeding after a dental injury that doesn't stop after applying gentle pressure for 10 to 15 minutes should be evaluated by an emergency dentist.
While a missing filling or crown isn't always an emergency, call your dentist right away if the exposed tooth is causing significant pain or sensitivity.
Emergency dentists are trained to quickly diagnose the cause of your pain and provide treatment. Depending on the problem, your emergency visit can include:
The goal of an emergency dentist is to stop pain, treat the underlying problem, and prevent further damage.
Some dental issues can safely wait a day or two, including:
But you shouldn’t wait if you experience:
When in doubt, call your dental office. A team member can help determine whether you should be seen right away.
While accidents can't always be avoided, you can reduce your risk by:
Emergencies, especially dental emergencies, rarely happen at a convenient time. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get the care you need. If you're experiencing severe tooth pain, swelling, a broken tooth, or another urgent dental problem, contact Apple Tree Dental right away. Our team provides prompt, compassionate emergency care to relieve your pain and help restore your smile as quickly as possible.
