Is a Severe Toothache a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is a stressful situation. It can cause a lot of grief, both physically and emotionally. As with any medical emergency, urgent dental matters can escalate and cause further problems if you do not address them quickly and properly. Knowing whether your issue is an emergency is critical to getting the right care. For example, if you are experiencing a significant toothache, you should get professional dental help quickly.

Possible causes of a toothache

Many people have occasional tooth pain or sensitivity. A toothache occurs when there is irritation in the nerve of the tooth's root. There are various reasons why this may happen, such as:

• An abscessed tooth
• A damaged filling
• Infected gums
• Repetitive motions, such as chewing gum or grinding teeth
• Tooth eruption or removal
• Untreated tooth decay

Pain can also be present after a traumatic injury, such as biting into something hard or suffering a blow to the mouth. In addition, some people may have what appears to be a toothache when they have an injury to the jaw or gum disease.

Toothache symptoms

There are several symptoms of a toothache. It can cause sharp, throbbing, or constant pain. The pain is only present for some patients when they bite down on food. Other symptoms include fever or headache and swelling around the tooth. Some patients may also find that their breath has a strange odor or a foul taste in their mouth from an infected tooth's drainage. If a patient begins to experience trouble breathing or swallowing in addition to the pain, they should seek immediate medical attention.

When it is a dental emergency

Not all instances of a toothache require the person to get immediate dental help. For example, when the pain is minor or subsides after taking medication or applying an ice pack, the patient might be able to wait to see the general dentist. They can also rinse their mouths with warm salt water or hydrogen peroxide to disinfect their mouth and reduce inflammation. 

However, the patient will need urgent care if the tooth pain does not improve with at-home treatment or continues to intensify. Signs of a toothache getting worse includes a fever, swelling in the mouth or face, and an earache or pain when they open their mouth. Patients should also consider how the pain affects their quality of life. For example, if the pain interferes with the ability to sleep or perform work or school duties, it is considered an emergency.

What the emergency dentist will do

For this type of dental emergency, the dentist will provide short- and long-term relief. The dentist will first take X-rays and do an examination. Next, the dentist will determine the cause of the toothache and prescribe the appropriate treatment. After numbing the patient, the dentist drills into the tooth to remove decay or kill the infection. A crown is usually needed if a filling is insufficient to repair and protect the tooth. If damage to the tooth, such as a fracture, is causing the pain, the dentist will fix the fracture and restore the tooth. In addition, the dentist may have to do a root canal if the tooth's nerve is infected. The dentist may also have to prescribe an antibiotic if the patient has a fever or swollen jaw.

The consequences of not getting help

A toothache itself is not fatal. However, ignoring a severe toothache can have detrimental consequences. The issues will only become more significant when decay or infection is the cause. The decay can grow, and the infection could spread to other mouthparts. Eventually, other parts of the body could suffer and cause serious or life-threatening illnesses. The infection could even enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart, causing cardiovascular problems. In addition, untreated tooth pain can become unbearable and make it impossible to manage routine duties.

Taking a toothache seriously

For lasting, serious tooth pain, get help without delay. This dental emergency can become an urgent health concern and cause future health problems that could be life-threatening. Fortunately, an emergency dentist can end the pain and discomfort. First, pay attention to the signs and symptoms of a severe toothache. Pay attention to any worsening symptoms if you can manage them with over-the-counter pain medication and other at-home treatment options until you can see your dentist. If you develop a fever or worsening pain, treat it as an emergency. Then, visit an emergency dentist's office and stop the tooth decay or infection in its tracks.

Are you considering a dental emergency in the Port Charlotte area? Get more information at https://dragonflydentalportcharlotte.com. Or call our office at  (941) 676-9225.

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