How to Tell If a Tooth Problem Is an Emergency (and When You Can Wait)
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night because of a toothache, wondering if you should call for an emergency dentist or wait until morning?
Many people have had the experience of seeing something on their teeth that causes alarm, but is not necessarily urgent vs. minor pain that can be a sign of a serious dental emergency. Knowing which one needs to be treated immediately and which one can wait for a regular dental appointment can be difficult for some. This guide will help you determine whether or not you need to seek immediate care from an emergency dentist or if it is okay to call your dentist and make an appointment at that time.
What Actually Counts as a Dental Emergency?
Should the reason for concern be due to extreme discomfort, continued loss of blood, increased size of an area, presence of germs, or a possibility of losing your tooth, then you may need to call for emergency assistance from a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery).
Your body does a great job of letting you know when you need to address something immediately. The key is to learn how to hear those signs before they develop into something more severe.
There are various levels of problems that necessitate prompt emergency dental care, and others will not create a problem if they are handled at your regularly scheduled dental appointment in one to two days.
Let's take a closer look at each of these levels.
Signs You Should Call an Emergency Dentist Immediately
Severe Tooth Pain That Won't Let Up
Most people experience some form of tooth sensitivity, whether it is from eating ice cream or drinking a warm beverage.
However, if you are currently experiencing significant throbbing pain with no relief through OTC (over-the-counter) medications, you need to seek treatment from an emergency dentist. The following are examples of what symptoms are indicative of severe pain:
An extremely deep cavity reaching the nerve
A dental abscess (infection at the root of the tooth)
Infection spreads into the surrounding bone tissue
A large extent of trauma to the tooth
If you are having difficulty eating or sleeping due to the pain of your teeth, it is a signal that you have reached a critical state where you need immediate attention.
Swelling in Your Face, Jaw, or Gums
Typically, little irritation in the gums does not constitute an urgent situation, but if you notice a significant amount of swelling around your face/jaw/gums, then it could mean that there is some kind of infection present. Dental infections should not be a case of "wait and see."
If you have any of the following symptoms along with the swelling:
Fever
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty breathing
An unpleasant taste in your mouth
A Knocked-Out Tooth
A tooth that has been completely knocked out due to a sports injury, falling, or if you've had an accident with a door, requires urgent attention.
You should see a dentist within 30-60 minutes in order to have a higher chance of your tooth being saved if you go to a dentist quickly.
If you have an accident like this:
Pick up the tooth from the crown, not from the root.
If it's dirty, rinse it gently.
Put it in milk or a tooth preservation solution.
Get to an immediate care dentist as fast as possible.
Situations That Feel Scary but Can Usually Wait
Minor Toothaches
While not an emergency, a mild intermittent ache in the mouth should prompt you to see the dentist as soon as possible. You probably don’t need to see your dentist the same day you experience the pain, but there are some warning signs that the problem may require immediate attention. Watch for:
Increasing pain
Swelling
Fever
Increased sensitivity
Small Chips or Cracks
Although a chipped tooth doesn't hurt as frequently, it doesn't mean that it should be overlooked indefinitely. Even the smallest fissures can wear down the tooth and create a greater chance for future destruction. It is important to set an appointment but you will likely not need an emergency appointment for pain to exist.
Lost Fillings or Crowns
This is not common. There is sometimes some urgency related to this, but losing a filling or crown usually does not count as an emergency in dentistry unless it also causes evidence of distress.
You should do the following until you can see a dentist:
Don't chew on that tooth
Keep the area clean
Make a dental appointment as soon as possible
Trust Your Instincts, but Don't Ignore Warning Signs
When you are experiencing significant pain, swelling, infection or bleeding from an injury to a tooth or have lost a tooth due to trauma, do not try to ignore the problem. If the problem is limited to a small chip in a tooth, a minor pain or discomfort or a loose filling, you will generally have enough time to call your dentist, make an appointment, and take care of the problem outside of an urgent situation.
Teeth often give signals when there is a problem, and the only question is whether you can detect the issue before it becomes large enough to warrant immediate attention.